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Night-time ceremony in a decorated tent with a dense crowd of devotees, mostly women in white, saffron, purple and bright saree colours, seated on floor mats. In the foreground a bare-chested, shaved-headed attendant in white dhoti kneels at a red-draped platform, while a man with long swept-back dark hair, a beard, a gold-and-pink flower garland and a rudraksha-style necklace, wearing a rust-orange wrap, extends his hand to bless a kneeling devotee with joined palms. A sacred fire pit burns at left beside brass vessels and marigold garlands, with a deity murti and altar decorations behind. Hanging lanterns, gold drapery and a camera crane frame the scene.

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December 05 20162016-12-05A large tented hall during a homa fire ritual. A central rectangular wooden fire pit with a burning flame sits on a red floor decorated with marigold petals and coloured rangoli. Seated on an ornate gold throne with a red cushion beneath a multicoloured parasol is a figure wearing a red-brown robe, white flower garland and rudraksha-style beads, hands folded in namaste; the figure's appearance matches a person with the throne and ceremonial dress cues. Standing near the fire, a bare-chested man in white dhoti with an orange headband bends over a tray of offerings. Around them, many seated devotees in white and bare-chested attire sit with hands joined, and a woman in a maroon sari with beads stands at right. Coloured paper lanterns hang from the ceiling and banana fruit, brass pots and flower offerings are arranged in front.2016-12-05December 07 20162016-12-07A large tented hall during an evening homa. A bearded man with long dark hair, a red turban and a dark shawl over an orange garment with a pink-and-white garland sits on an ornate gold-and-red throne at left, facing the fire pit. A priest in a white dhoti with an orange shawl stands at right, pouring offerings into a raised wooden fire pit where flames rise. Hundreds of seated devotees fill the floor, many with hands folded, and colourful hanging lanterns and streamers decorate the ceiling. A gold-and-red striped runner lies on the red carpet, with a silver lamp and flower garland at right.2016-12-07December 05 20162016-12-05December 07 20162016-12-07A large tent hall during an evening fire ritual. A man with long dark hair and a red headband sits on a gold-framed throne with a red cushion, back to the camera, wearing a red garment and a pink garland. Before him a square brick-red fire pit with a bright flame sits on a red carpet. Standing at the pit, three men in white dhotis and saffron cloth hold offering trays and a red garland. A crowd of seated devotees, many in white and saffron, fills the floor; a gold parasol stands at left and colourful paper streamers hang from the ceiling. Tent lights and pots of greenery frame the scene.2016-12-07December 07 20162016-12-07Night ceremony in a tented pavilion with a red carpet and a golden canopy with fringed trim overhead. A long-haired man with dark hair and a saffron/orange robe sits on an ornate gold-and-red throne, with a garland around his neck, and extends his hand toward a kneeling man in dark clothing being blessed. To the right, a raised platform holds a fire pit with a bright flame, brass bowls and marigold garlands; seated men in white and saffron dhotis and shawls, and devotees in white, watch. Banana plants, hanging lights and a decorated deity shrine stand in the background.2016-12-05Night-time ritual at a fire pit (homa) in a tented hall with a gold-decorated shrine at the back. Several bare-chested men in white dhotis with yellow sashes and rudraksha malas crouch and pour offerings into the flames over a red-cloth floor scattered with marigold petals. A bearded man in a yellow shirt sits at the right, and a man in an orange turban and white dhoti with a rudraksha mala kneels beside a silver stool. Behind them, women in saris and dupattas and men in white stand watching, and a large screen shows a colourful deity image. Flower garlands, brass pots and kalasha vessels surround the fire.2016-12-05December 07 20162016-12-07December 05 20162016-12-05