Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
A large tented hall hung with colourful paper lanterns and tassels during an evening homa. A seated figure on a gold-and-red throne with a red turban and a garland of beads receives attention from a bare-chested priest in white dhoti and gold-bordered cloth who kneels at his side. In the foreground a bare-chested priest in an orange-yellow shawl and white dhoti sits beside a square wooden fire pit holding a small flame, gesturing toward it, with a basket of dried sticks beside him. Brass bowls, banana and fruit offerings, betel leaves and a metal dish of leaves sit on the red mat. A large crowd of seated devotees, many in white and orange, fills the hall.

More like this

Open the gallery
A tented hall during a homa fire ritual. A bearded man in a red-brown robe with a garland of white flowers sits on an ornate golden throne with a red cushion under a striped canopy. A priest in white dhoti stands at left. In the foreground a priest in a saffron-yellow shawl and rudraksha mala feeds offerings into a wooden fire pit with visible flames, while another priest in white sits beside it. Baskets of fruit, plantains, coconuts and bundled twigs sit on the red floor. Hundreds of seated devotees, many in white and colourful saris, fill the hall beneath hanging paper lanterns and flags. Decorations and a golden backdrop frame the scene.2016-12-07A large tented hall with striped ceremonial canopy and hanging colourful lanterns hosts a fire ritual. A man with a red turban, rudraksha mala and red-orange cloth sits on an ornate gold throne at left, appearing to be Swamiji (probable), given his distinctive turban, rudraksha and ceremonial gold-trimmed seat; he is seated before a homa fire pit. Nearby, priests in white dhotis and a woman in a yellow sari sit before the fire pit, one man in saffron-orange raises a hand, and a shirtless priest with a sacred thread and rudraksha mala sits at front. Fruit, flowers, brass bowls and plates of offerings surround the altar, and a large seated audience fills the background.2016-12-07A large tented hall during an evening fire ritual. In the centre a wooden square fire pit with a bright flame sits on a red floor, surrounded by flower petals, brass vessels and garlands. A shirtless priest in white dhoti and an orange cloth kneels at the fire pit, tending the flames. Seated on an ornate golden throne with a red cloth is a man wearing an orange turban, a red shawl and a long beaded garland; a large multicoloured parasol stands behind him. Around him devotees sit on the floor in white and yellow clothes, and a woman in a maroon sari with a garland stands with folded hands at right. Colourful hanging lanterns decorate the ceiling and lights hang overhead.2016-12-05December 07 20162016-12-07A 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 20162016-12-07December 05 20162016-12-05December 07 20162016-12-07A large tented hall during an evening homa. In the foreground, a priest bare-chested in white dhoti and saffron shawl tends a wooden fire pit with a burning flame, surrounded by marigold petals and rangoli in pink and green. Seated on a gilded throne with a long-tasselled canopy above, a man with long hair and a crown-like headdress wears a saffron robe and a long white garland and gold necklace, with devotees in white and saffron standing behind him, many with hands folded in namaskar. Silk umbrella with multicolour fringe, paper lanterns and fairy lights hang overhead. Several dozen people stand and sit around the fire area.2016-12-05December 07 20162016-12-07A homa fire burns in a large wooden fire pit in a tented pavilion with red floor covering. A seated figure on an ornate gold throne with a canopy topped by a colourful striped umbrella wears a black turban, dark red robes, and a white flower garland, with a gold medallion at the chest. Around the fire, priests in white dhotis and orange or saffron shawls sit or stand performing the ritual, one pouring offerings. Devotees, some with bare upper bodies and hands folded, sit in rows, and a woman in a deep red sari stands at the right. Marigold garlands, flower petals, bananas, and brass vessels surround the pit, and hanging lanterns decorate the ceiling.2016-12-05A 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.2016-12-07