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A photograph of a Rudra Homa fire ritual outdoors under a canopy. A large fire burns in a pit surrounded by stacked golden-yellow offering packets. A long-haired figure seated on a red cushioned chair in the right foreground wears a red and white flower garland, gold bangles and a gold earring, viewed from behind. Several priests in white dhotis and saffron/orange cloths sit on green mats chanting before a decorated deity murti on an ornate platform with floral garlands. Behind them stands a golden arch and a crowd of devotees in white and orange clothing watches the homa.

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Photograph of a Rudra homa in progress: a sacred fire blazes in a square pit ringed with stacked red-and-yellow bricks on a green cloth at left. Seated priests in white dhotis and bare torsos, some with orange sashes, tend the fire and offerings. Right of centre, a figure with long dark dreadlocks seen from behind wears a red and gold garland and gold armband and sits on a red cushioned seat facing the ritual. Behind them a golden arched altar holds a deity murti with flower decoration and a kalasha-style arrangement. A seated congregation in white clothes fills the left background, along with several standing onlookers. The scene is in a large hall with a visible air-conditioning unit at right.2016-07-02A sacred fire homa is performed on a green mat under a canopy in a temple-style hall. In the foreground, a long-haired person seated on a red chair, wearing a red-and-gold garland and gold armlets, sits with palms pressed together in prayer, viewed from behind. Before them, priests in white dhotis and orange-toned cloth sit and stand at a flaming fire pit surrounded by yellow-brown bricks and offerings, with a microphone stand nearby. Behind them, an ornate golden shrine holds decorated deity murti and floral arrangements, with a tall gold-and-red structure and a standing ritual lamp. Several white-clad devotees watch from the left.2016-07-02Outdoor photo of a Rudra Homa fire ritual on a green mat under a canopy. A bright fire burns in a stepped brick fire pit at left, surrounded by yellow-brick offerings with marigold and red flowers. A priest in white dhoti and shawl stands with hands joined near the fire, while seated priests in white and one in orange clothes chant at microphones. Behind them, a tall decorated golden peetha and ornate temple-style deity murtis with garlands fill the background. In the foreground at right, a person with long dreadlock-style hair wears a red and orange garment and a flower garland, sitting on a red chair with palms pressed together in prayer, facing the homa. Several devotees in white stand in rows behind, watching the ritual.2016-07-02A photograph of a Rudra Homa fire ritual on a green mat under a canopy, with a bright fire burning in a pit of stacked yellow-wrapped offering packets at left. A priest in white dhoti and shawl stands beside the fire with a red-and-white cloth, and a young priest in white sits on a low seat chanting into a microphone. Behind them a decorated ornate altar with a tiered red and gold structure, deity murti and brass lamps is set against a gilded temple backdrop. In the foreground at right, a long-haired figure with a red and yellow garland sits with hands folded in a red chair, seen from behind, with a yellow-robed attendant beside. Several dozen devotees in white and red stand and sit around the perimeter.2016-07-02A photograph of an outdoor Vedic fire ritual on a green mat. A central homa fire blazes inside a square pit of stacked brick-like yellow blocks decorated with red flowers. A priest in white dhoti, bare-chested and with a yellow-and-orange cloth on his shoulder, stands bent over the fire with a ladle, while a man in orange and white vestments sits beside the pit. Metal plates, bowls, brass vessels and a covered pot sit in front. Behind, rows of seated participants in white with orange and red shawls watch, and a deity murti stands on an ornate pink-and-teal platform decorated with flowers. A musician with a wind instrument sits at the right edge.2016-07-02July 17 20152015-07-17July 02 20162016-07-02Photograph of a Rudra Homa fire ritual in a temple courtyard with a green mat floor. A large sacred fire burns in a square homa kund in the foreground, surrounded by stacked wooden offerings and flower garlands. Behind it stands an ornate golden and pink temple structure with deity murtis in niches. Seated participants in white clothes and red-orange shawls sit in rows facing the fire, many with hands folded. On the right, a bare-chested priest with a shawl and rudraksha-style beads sits at microphones, chanting, while another priest in a white dhoti stands nearby. A man in an orange shawl with a bead necklace sits at the right edge beside the chanting priests. Around 25 people are visible.2016-07-02A photograph of a Vedic Rudra homa in progress on a green mat inside a temple hall. A large fire blazes in a square pit of stacked golden bricks at center, with brass plates of offerings and flowers nearby. A priest in white dhoti with a bare upper body stands at left tending the fire, while seated priests in white garments and orange or red shawls chant at right near microphones. A large decorated shrine with a tiered kalasha-like altar and colourful deity murti fills the background. Several seated devotees in white clothes watch in the foreground, including a woman in white with a red border. A single figure in orange robes stands at far right near the shrine.2016-07-02Night outdoor temple-style ritual under a tent with golden illuminated deity murtis and shrine arches behind. In the foreground a woman in a rust-red sari with a flower garland and long braid stands with hands folded at a red cushioned seat on the left, facing a decorated altar with a deity murti or shrine figure on a painted wooden stand with carved lions and a serpent base. A fire pit with burning flames and offerings sits at the bottom right, indicating a homa or yagna. Nearby a man in white with a red shawl and rudraksha-style neck garland stands with hands folded, and a priest in white dhoti with a pink turban and green-bordered cloth stands at the right. Several other people in white and red shawls stand at the back left. Flower petals and brass vessels lie on a green mat.2016-07-03December 05 20162016-12-05Large ritual gathering seated on the ground facing a raised shrine decorated with marigold and rose garlands. Several bare-chested priests in white dhotis and saffron-and-white cloth stand at the altar, one holding a ritual object over a fire pit with flames. Dozens of devotees in beige or cream clothing sit in rows with their backs to the camera. Behind the altar stand deity murtis draped in garlands, and gold-framed ceremonial lamps and a kalasha flank the shrine. On the right, a man in an ornate red and gold shawl and saffron-orange turban sits on a gold throne with a red cushion, a person candidate, with a rudraksha-style garland and a photographer nearby. Cues are limited, so identity is uncertain.2016-12-07