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Night-time homa at an outdoor ritual site. A young priest in orange and red robes, with an orange turban, white body markings and rudraksha beads, pours an offering with a long ladle over a blazing fire built into a tiered stack of yellow turmeric-coated bricks. A second priest in orange sits beside a silver throne-like seat decorated with a garland of yellow and red flowers, a kalasha and a mango and banana offering. Brass lamps, a kettle, silver bowls of grains and fruit, and a plate with a sprinkling of pink flower petals lie on a striped cloth in the foreground. Several other seated participants appear at the left edge.

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June 04 20182018-06-04Night-time fire ritual (homa) on a patterned mat outdoors. Two men in orange and saffron clothing sit before a yellow brick fire pit with a bright flame. The man on the right wears an orange turban, rudraksha malas, white body markings and orange cloth, and pours an offering from a ladle into a bowl. The man in the centre, in an orange turban and white-striped body paint, sits with hands together. To the left a decorated deity murti or kalasha-like figure is garlanded with yellow and red flowers and banana leaves, with fruit, bananas and brass vessels arranged around. Brass lamps, a metal tray with rice and kumkum bowls complete the offering setup. Dim figures sit in the background.2018-06-04Night-time outdoor homa on a striped cloth in an open courtyard. Two sannyasis sit before a fire pit built of stacked yellow-coated bricks. The seated man at right, bare-chested with white ash markings, rust-red dhoti, orange turban and a rudraksha mala, pours liquid from a long ladle into the flames. Beside him sits a second sannyasi in an orange turban and orange cloth with a white-striped body. Behind them stands a silver ornate peetha draped with a deity murti or sacred item, garlanded with red, yellow and orange flowers and leaves. Brass oil lamps, a kalasha pot, steel plates of fruit, bananas, flowers and rice, and small cups surround the offerings. Petals are scattered on the cloth, and a few other people stand in the background.2018-06-04June 04 20182018-06-04June 04 20182018-06-04 +1 copiesA homa fire ritual on a striped cloth outdoors. A fire burns inside a square brick fire pit coated in yellow paste with white dotted markings. A bearded man with white body markings, a rust-orange cloth, a rudraksha mala and a metal bangle ladles a white liquid from a bowl with a long spoon. Beside him, a younger man in a shaved-head style with a black turban, orange cloth, layered beaded necklaces and wrist bands sits watching. On the right, kalasha-style pots decorated with yellow and pink flowers, green leaves and a bunch of bananas, oranges and fruit sit on a silver tray. Two people are visible.2018-04-26 +1 copiesA homa fire ritual on a striped rug in an outdoor courtyard. A bearded man with a red-orange turban, orange cloth and rudraksha malas kneels at a square yellow brick fire pit, pouring from a metal ladle into the flames, while a younger priest in a black turban and orange cloth sits beside him. Both have white ash markings on their bodies. Offerings surround the pit: a bowl of pink flower petals, a plate of grains, metal bowls, a silver kalasha-style vessel, fruit, banana leaves and coconuts decorated with flowers. Another person sits in the background, and a red cushioned seat is visible at the upper right.2018-04-26 +1 copiesNovember 26 20172017-11-26A night-time homa at an open-air ashram courtyard. In the foreground a fire burns in a square brick fire pit decorated with white painted geometric designs. Behind it a seated man in a rust-red robe, with a crown-like head covering, rudraksha-style beads and bangled arms, sits on a striped multicoloured cloth beside a metal microphone stand, offering trays of fruit and rice, copper pots and a silver-framed deity murti with flower garlands. Two shirtless men in orange-red dhotis stand behind him, and a woman in white with a garland, plus another person, stand at the left edge. A silver peetha with garlands sits at right. Whether the seated man is a person cannot be confirmed from appearance; the cues are a crown, red robe and beads, but the image is uncertain.2017-09-07 +1 copiesNight-time homa at an outdoor ritual space under strings of coloured lights. A priest in orange with an orange turban and white body markings sits before a fire pit lined with yellow cloth, pouring offerings into the flames. Around him, several men in orange or white dhotis stand and sit, handling brass vessels, a tray of red flower petals and a plate of white grains. On a raised gold throne with a red cushion, a seated figure in a maroon robe and rudraksha mala receives the ritual. A standing attendant in white dhoti and bare chest with a long garland stands at the right beside a floral-decorated altar. Colourful striped mats cover the ground.2017-04-16A night-time homa at an outdoor temple setting: a large fire burns in a stone fire pit with smoke rising. Behind it stands a deity murti with a golden cobra hood canopy, draped in garlands of orange and yellow marigolds. On the left, a man in an orange turban and orange dhoti stands barefoot beside the pit. On the right, a person in a maroon-brown robe holds a large brass vessel, and a red and gold chair stands nearby. Brass pots, bowls of fruit and flowers sit on the ground in front of the fire pit.2013-10-06January 13 20182018-01-13