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A ritual scene during a homa for samaya deeksha. A shaved-headed monastic in saffron-orange robes and rudraksha mala stands at a decorated mandala table covered in blue cloth, with a yellow and red powder design bordered by gold beads and marigold petals. Beside him a man in white dhoti with an orange-red shawl holds a flower and offering over the mandala. A woman in maroon sari with a rudraksha mala holds a small object, and another woman in a brown sari stands near a floral-garlanded silver pedestal. On the right a man in white dhoti and gold-bordered shawl with a rudraksha mala stands by flower garlands. Behind them tiered brass lamp stands and seated devotees fill a white-draped hall.

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A photograph of a ritual in a covered tent hall. In the foreground, a man in a white dhoti with a maroon-and-gold shawl stands beside a round blue-draped altar holding a flower-garlanded mandala of yellow and red powders and marigold strands. Behind it, a bald man in a maroon-and-gold shawl and a white-clad man with a red shawl and beaded necklaces perform the rite with their hands together. Rows of brass lamp stands and offering trays fill the floor, and a decorated deity murti with marigold garlands stands at the right. Several white-clad devotees sit behind them under draped cloth, and brass bowls of offerings sit in the lower left.2015-07-17July 17 20152015-07-17A photograph of a ritual inside a white tented hall. A man in a maroon and red-brown dhoti-style garment and a rudraksha-style mala stands at right, speaking into a handheld microphone while gesturing toward a large floral mandala on a blue-draped table, decorated with gold and garland-like borders, red powder and marigold-style petals. A woman in a dark orange-brown sari stands behind him. Rows of brass oil lamps on tiered stands surround the mandala. Seated devotees in white and cream clothes and maroon shawls fill the background, with a camera on a tripod at left and bright floral garlands at right edge. The setting suggests a homa or samaya deeksha ceremony, with a visible mandala process.2015-07-17A photograph of a ritual at a large tented ceremony hall. In the foreground a blue-draped round altar holds a colourful sand or powder mandala decorated with gold-coloured beads, flowers and small lamps. A shaved-headed priest in an orange-brown dhoti and rudraksha mala stands at the altar, pouring from a small vessel. To the right, a bearded man in a white dhoti with a purple-and-gold shawl and rudraksha mala stands watching. A young child in white clothes presses hands together. Brass oil lamps stand on a tiered stand and devotees in saffron and maroon garments fill the background beneath a white canopy. Gold brass vessels and offerings lie on the left.2015-07-17A photograph of a homa and samaya deeksha ritual in a covered hall with a tiled floor. In the foreground a priest in a red-and-white turban sits cross-legged before a small fire pit with flowers and marigold garlands, wearing a rudraksha mala. Behind him a woman in an orange sari stands near brass oil lamps on a stand, and a priest in white dhoti stands near a blue-draped offering table. A shaved-headed monk in orange robes stands beside an ornate golden throne and a deity murti decorated with marigold garlands, while a man in an orange kurta holds a camera. Several seated and standing devotees watch in the background, and a microphone stands on the right.2015-07-17A homa ritual in a covered hall with a fire pit at lower centre, flames rising from offerings of flowers, sweets and leaves. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti with a pink-and-yellow turban sits behind the fire pit. A man in white dhoti and brown shawl at right holds a stick near a tall gold-and-red altar with a deity murti draped in marigold garlands. Standing figures in orange and brown robes and white dhotis surround a blue-draped platform with brass kalasha vessels. Brass lamps stand in rows at left, and devotees sit in the background. A white cloth backdrop hangs behind the scene. Visible people number about twenty.2015-07-17July 17 20152015-07-17Photo of a ritual inside a tented hall with white draped ceiling. In the centre, a shaved-headed man in an orange-brown upper cloth and cream dhoti, wearing spectacles and a rudraksha mala, guides a young boy in white who has a white cloth tied over his eyes. Before them a round blue-draped altar holds a large yellow and red mandala of marigolds, flower garlands and rice powder. On the right a man in a gold-bordered purple shawl, white dhoti and rudraksha mala stands watching. Brass oil lamps stand on a tiered stand at left, a women in orange saris and other devotees in white and saffron attend nearby, and a ceremonial standard hangs at the right edge.2015-07-17July 17 20152015-07-17July 17 20152015-07-17July 17 20152015-07-17A temple-style ritual hall with white canopy draping, where several people in white and rust-coloured clothing attend a ceremony around a blue-skirted altar heaped with yellow flowers. At centre, a metal deity murti is decorated with orange and yellow marigold garlands, and to the right a gilded throne backs a seated deity figure hung with garlands. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti and orange shawl sits at left beside brass vessels, flower pots, and fruit offerings. A standing man in white dhoti with a gold-trimmed cloth and a kneeling figure with orange wrap and rudraksha are among the participants, with microphones on stands in the foreground. The scene appears to be a samaya deeksha homa ritual.2015-07-17