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Night outdoor ritual on a sandy beach at a homa fire pit built of stacked bricks, with bright flames rising. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti with a pink-and-gold cloth, rudraksha mala and gold necklace stands and pours from a vessel into the fire. A crouching assistant in white dhoti with a pink turban tends the flames. Two seated young people in orange and white clothes sit with palms pressed in anjali, one with a mala. Behind them a figure in orange sits on a red-cushioned throne-like seat with raised arms and palms together, making the presence of a possible a person candidate; appearance is uncertain. A blue-draped altar holds fruit, flowers and kalasha offerings, and brass oil lamps stand nearby. A large seated crowd in orange, red and white watches in the dark background.

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Night outdoor fire ritual on a sandy beach. A bare-chested man in white dhoti with pink sash and rudraksha mala stands holding a plate of offerings beside a seated priest in a pink turban and white dhoti who tends the fire. A brick fire pit burns brightly in front, with a teal-draped table of flowers, fruit and kalasha-like offerings behind it. A large crowd sits in the background, and a woman in orange sits at left.2015-12-25December 25 20152015-12-25December 25 20152015-12-25December 25 20152015-12-25December 25 20152015-12-25A night-time beach ritual with a blazing fire pit at centre, surrounded by stacked wooden logs and offerings. Several priests sit around the fire; one in an orange-saffron dhoti pours or tends the flames, and a bare-chested man with a rudraksha-style necklace sits to the right. Brass vessels, a kalasha-like pot, small oil lamps and flower offerings lie on the sand. Behind, a large seated crowd of roughly a hundred devotees in red and white clothing watches quietly under a dark sky. This appears to be a homa or yagna on the beach.2015-12-24December 25 20152015-12-25Four priests sit on green mats on a sandy beach around a brick fire pit where a bright flame burns, with bundles of wood stacked to one side and a copper vessel and brass lamps nearby. A decorated altar draped in teal cloth holds fruit and floral offerings behind the fire. Two priests on the left wear white dhotis, purple-and-gold shawls and garlands; one wears a purple turban and stirs a ladle. Two on the right wear white dhotis with purple shawls and garlands. Behind them a large crowd of devotees in white, orange and red clothing sits and stands on the sand under a pale sky, which suggests a homa or yagna held outdoors.2015-12-25December 25 20152015-12-25December 25 20152015-12-25Night-time outdoor homa on a sandy beach. A fire burns on a low brick-and-wood platform in the foreground while a bare-chested priest in a striped cloth and gold necklace tends it. Another priest in a purple turban sits cross-legged beside the fire, and a third standing priest in a white cloth raises a vessel near golden metal deity murtis on a red pedestal at right. A teal-covered offering table holds flowers, fruit and brass lamps. A seated woman in red sari with gold bangles watches at left. Around 30 white-clad devotees stand and sit in the background, with city lights beyond.2015-12-25Night photo on a sandy beach showing a homa fire pit lit with a flame at the centre. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti and a sacred thread sits behind the fire holding a ladle, with offering bowls, brass vessels, a lamp and flower garlands arranged on the sand. Two people sit on the right tending the offerings and a figure in dark clothing sits at left. Behind them, a large seated crowd of over a hundred people in white and red clothing watches in the darkness. Plastic bags and small items lie on the sand in the foreground.2015-12-24