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A homa fire ritual in a brick-walled hall. Central fire pit built of stacked bricks with a bright flame, surrounded by marigold and flower garlands, brass vessels, and a basket of dried sticks. Several priests in white dhotis and orange-saffron shawls tend the fire; a shirtless priest with an orange turban in the foreground and others seated behind a second fire pit. Marigold garlands and offering trays are arranged along the platform.

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October 16 20162016-10-16A homa fire burns in a brick fire pit at the centre of a stone-walled hall, surrounded by marigold garlands and brass vessels. A bare-chested man with a white dhoti and orange shawl, with a tilak on his forehead, sits cross-legged before the fire. Around him, priests in white dhotis and orange clothing tend the ritual, one holding a brass pot and another feeding offerings into the flames. A second fire burns in the background, and a woven basket of sticks and offering materials sits at right. Copyright overlay text appears on the image.2016-10-16Evening fire ritual in an open brick-walled courtyard. A large square homa fire pit with a bright flame sits at centre, surrounded by garlands of yellow and orange flowers, bowls of offerings, fruit and green leaves. A priest in white dhoti with a bare upper body and a red-orange headcloth sits at the left and tends the fire with a ladle. Another priest in a white dhoti and orange sash sits behind the fire pit, with a second fire and more ritual participants visible in the background. A woman with glasses and a flower garland sits at the right. Several other people in white dhotis are seated or standing in the background.2016-10-16Priests perform a homa fire ritual inside a brick-walled space at dusk. A large brick fire pit holds blazing flames, surrounded by marigold garlands, brass vessels, bundles of sticks in a basket, and a bowl of grains. Seated priests wear white dhotis, bare upper bodies, and orange or saffron shawls and headcloths; one wears an orange headcloth and holds a bowl over the fire, another in an orange shawl sits cross-legged at the pit, and others tend to a second fire pit in the background. Garlanded brass pots and offerings are arranged on a striped mat. A bearded figure in white stands at the left edge.2016-10-16A homa fire ritual inside a brick-walled hall. A shaven-headed man in an orange-saffron cloth draped over his shoulders sits at a square brick fire pit where large flames rise, with marigold garlands and offerings arranged around it. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti with a yellow head band sits on the right beside a second fire pit, and other white-clad men attend in the background. A man in an orange head wrap on the left holds a brass bowl near the fire. Copper pots, banana-leaf plates and bundles of sticks lie on the floor.2016-10-16Photograph of a fire ritual, homa or yagna, inside a stone-walled hall with rough brick and stone blocks. Several priests sit on the floor around brick-lined fire pits where flames rise, with bowls of offerings, leafy green stems, marigold-like flowers, a basket of sticks and brass vessels nearby. The priest in the centre wears an orange-saffron cloth draped over his body with a tilak on his forehead. A bare-chested priest on the right wears a yellow head cloth and white dhoti. Attendants in white and orange garments tend the fires and handle offerings in the background.2016-10-16Night photograph of a homa at an open-air ritual space. A fire burns in a rectangular fire pit at centre-left, with brick-like blocks around it. A woman in orange robes with a rudraksha mala sits cross-legged behind a plantain-leaf offering. Beside her, a figure in orange with a mala and forehead markings sits near a brass plate. A young person in orange kneels and holds a small item near a decorated tray with fruit, flowers, a kalasha-like cone and red garlands. On the right, two boys stand bare-chested in white dhoti-style cloth, one bending toward the tray. Seated devotees in white clothing and white headwraps fill the background, and a potted plant sits at left.2017-02-15A photograph of a homa fire pit inside a temple hall. A wooden fire pit with a bright flame sits in the foreground, its rim scattered with white and yellow flower petals. Behind it, a seated man in an orange-saffron upper cloth and a yellow-bordered white dhoti sits with a thin gold-coloured sacred thread visible, wearing a plain gold chain and a tilak on his forehead. To the right, a shirtless priest in a white dhoti with a purple-and-green striped cloth wrapped across his shoulder sits facing the fire, a steel bowl and offerings nearby. Another man in a purple-and-orange headcloth and rudraksha-style beads sits to the right. Behind them, a golden arch frames a floral arrangement and a kalasha-like vessel, with ornate golden deity figures in the background. Priests in white are seated along the back. The scene reflects a homa or yagna ritual.2016-12-12February 22 20172017-02-22September 28 20162016-09-28A homa fire ritual at night. A square brick fire pit blazes at the centre, with tall flames rising from it. Several priests in white dhotis and white shawls with red borders sit cross-legged around the pit, one holding a ladle and one offering into the fire. A bowl of ghee sits on the pit's edge beside silver trays of flowers, nuts and offerings. On the left, a deity murti is adorned with red and white flower garlands, and brass oil lamps stand nearby. Hands of devotees reach in from the frame edges.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight-time outdoor homa at a temple-style setting. In the foreground a bare-chested priest in white dhoti with a yellow-bordered cloth sits beside a flaming fire pit ringed with marigold and red flower garlands, pouring an offering from a small steel bowl. Behind him another priest in white dhoti and gold-bordered cloth stands tending the ceremony, and a third figure kneels at a second fire pit further back. A red-draped table holds flowers and petals, and fruit and brass vessels sit on the ground. Scaffolding and red curtains frame the scene.2018-03-02