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A homa fire ceremony in a hall filled with seated devotees, many dressed in white with saffron-orange shawls. In the foreground a square brick fire pit, its rim decorated with red and white flower patterns, holds a small burning flame and smoke rising. A priest in saffron shawl sits with his back to the camera at left. Opposite, a bare-chested officiant with a red head covering, rudraksha mala and white dhoti sits behind a silver stand, holding a ritual item over the fire. Brass lamps, a flower-garlanded deity murti at left, bananas and bowls of offerings sit around the pit. Two microphones stand in front.

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July 17 20152015-07-17Indoor photograph of a homa ritual for Samaya Deeksha in a large hall. A priest in white dhoti with an orange-gold shawl kneels at a brick fire pit decorated with floral garlands, feeding offerings into smoke. Seated across from him, a man with a bare upper torso, ornate beaded necklaces and a red headpiece sits on a low platform with a small offering table holding bowls and fruit, and a bright flower-decorated plate. Behind them, a large seated congregation in white and orange-red clothing fills the floor. Brass oil lamps and a gold kalasha stand at left beside a deity murti garlanded with yellow and orange flowers. A microphone stand and a camera on a tripod are visible. Banana bunches and marigold garlands lie in the foreground.2015-07-17July 06 20152015-07-06Outdoor homa ceremony at a temple courtyard. A large square fire pit lined with yellow marigold garlands and flower petals burns brightly in the foreground. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti with gold chains sits at the fire pit, and a man in saffron-orange garments and rudraksha beads raises one hand while speaking into a handheld microphone. Behind them, dozens of devotees sit on colourful striped mats, many in white with red shawls and others in saffron-orange, with a red shrine structure and palm trees behind. Brass vessels and offerings sit on the ground. A figure with long hair and a crown-like headpiece sits near the front.2016-02-16 +1 copiesJuly 19 20132013-07-19A homa fire ritual is performed on a stacked pyramid of yellow-ochre bricks sprinkled with red and yellow powder, with flames and smoke rising from a central fire. Seated on the right, a man in an orange-saffron garment with a deep reddish-brown turban, a long rudraksha-style bead mala, a gold pendant and wire-rimmed glasses holds a book and a small object at the fire, a figure matching the a person appearance cues. Around him, about 30 seated devotees in white and saffron attire with orange shawls sit on mats, many with hands folded in prayer. Brass oil lamps and a multi-tiered lamp stand frame the scene, with a camera on a tripod at the back of the room and a pink-violet stage light cast over the hall.2015-07-09A photograph of a Rudra Homa fire ritual outdoors on green mats. A large fire burns on a stepped altar of yellow-painted bricks decorated with red flower petals. Two priests in white dhotis sit bare-chested at the fire; the front priest wears a yellow turban, a golden garland and a green-and-white sacred thread, and holds a ladle over the offerings. Behind them a seated crowd in white clothes and red-orange shawls watches; several participants fold their hands in prayer. To the right stands a decorated shrine with a golden figure and offering plates, and metal vessels of grains and fruit sit in the foreground.2016-07-02July 17 20152015-07-17 +1 copiesPhotograph of a homa at an outdoor temple courtyard. A square fire pit with a flaming wooden fire sits on a yellow-ochre platform decorated with yellow marigold garlands and red flower petals. A bearded priest in orange dhoti and a red-and-gold shawl, wearing a red beaded mala and gold necklace, sits on the right holding a ladle and offering over a silver plate; a bare-chested assistant in white dhoti kneels beside him. In the foreground a figure with a cowrie-shell necklace holds a brass plate of offerings. Behind, a seated assembly of devotees in white, orange and red clothes sits on colourful striped mats, with a red shrine and a black stone deity murti with garland in the background. Trays of fruit, brass bowls and banana leaves rest on the right.2016-02-16 +1 copiesA homa fire burns inside a tiered brick fire altar with red and yellow painted bricks on a tiled floor. A figure in an orange-brown turban and wrapped saffron-toned cloth, wearing a long rudraksha-style mala and a large gold pendant, kneels at the altar and pours from a brass ladle into a bowl. Behind, a large seated audience in white and cream clothing with orange shawls and red garlands sits in rows. Tall brass oil lamps stand at the right edge. The scene looks like a fire ritual during a session.2015-07-09July 17 20152015-07-17July 06 20152015-07-06