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Night outdoor ritual before a fire pit where a homa is burning, with brass bowls, flower heaps and lamps arranged on cloth in the foreground. Six women in red, orange, green and purple saris sit on low decorated stools facing the fire, while a man in an orange-brown dhoti and shawl stands at the front holding a palm-leaf text. A woman in a green sari holds a tray of flowers and fruit, and a bare-chested young man in white dhoti stands at the right edge. Behind them a large crowd sits and stands under strings of orange and green leaf garlands, with a tall ceremonial lamp stand visible in the background. Lights glow in the trees at left.

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October 29 20162016-10-29Night outdoor homa at a temple-like courtyard with a square brick fire pit blazing at the foreground, surrounded by small brass pots, bowls of flowers and fruit, and a kalasha. A man seated on an ornate gold-and-red throne, wearing a saffron-orange robe and a white floral garland draped over his shoulders, sits to the left, with a sparse sidelight of string lights behind. Five women in orange, red and green saris sit cross-legged on low carved wooden seats in a row facing the fire. A shirtless priest in red dhoti stands at right with a red cloth, and a crowd of seated devotees in white and colourful clothing fills the background under a strand of marigold decorations. Visible crowd and participants indicate a homa or yagna ritual.2016-10-29Night outdoor ritual homa at a fire pit in a courtyard decorated with a row of orange and green paper garlands and string lights. A seated man on a gold-ornate throne with a red cushion, wearing a red-orange robe and a white floral garland, sits under a decorated umbrella canopy. Five women in orange, red and green saris sit on decorated seats in a row before the fire, and a man in an orange turban attends the ritual nearby. Brass bowls holding flowers and offerings surround the fire pit. A large seated audience fills the background, and a lit oil lamp stands at right. a person: the throned seated man wears red-orange robes and a floral garland, but facial and hair cues are not distinctive enough to confirm identity.2016-10-29Night photograph of an outdoor homa fire ceremony in a pavilion strung with dried orange-yellow leaf garlands. A large square fire pit with bright flames sits at centre, with brass plates of offerings and flowers beside it on the right. Seated rows of devotees, many in white and wearing flower garlands, fill the foreground and background, with a large crowd behind them. On the right, two priests in saffron-orange dhoti and wraps stand and assist, one wearing a rudraksha mala. On the left stands a golden kalasha on a stand beside a red and gold cushioned seat. A small sign reads LIVE near the crowd.2016-10-10Night outdoor homa at a large open-air gathering. A square fire pit blazes in the foreground, with flames rising from a golden-edged altar, and offerings such as bowls and fruit lie on a tray at its right. Behind it, a crowd of several hundred people sits on the ground, many wearing flower garlands and colourful clothing, facing the fire. On the left, an ornate red-cushioned throne and a golden kalasha-topped staff stand near the fire. On the right, several young men in orange-saffron dhotis and rudraksha malas stand and sit near the altar. Strings of dried leaves and marigold-style decorations hang overhead, and a small LIVE sign is visible in the crowd.2016-10-10Night ritual under an open roofed pavilion with red pillars. A standing man in an orange-red dhoti and matching shawl, with an orange turban, stands beside a fire pit releasing flames and smoke. Several women in orange, blue and green saris sit on maroon and purple cloths before the pit, many wearing flower garlands in yellow and white with pink and purple blooms, and one wears a headpiece. Brass oil lamps burn in the foreground and drums rest at right. Behind them a seated crowd in white garments watches, and some people hold pale cloths. Pink petals scatter the stone steps.2013-10-13Evening outdoor ritual at a temple-like setting with palm trees in the dusk. A man in orange robes and a beaded mala holds a lit aarti lamp toward a seated woman in orange on a carved wooden throne at left, who presses her palms together. Several devotees in orange and maroon-bordered garments sit in a row on an orange cloth before a white homa fire pit or altar with offerings on brass plates. A tall garland of red and white flowers hangs at right beside a blue cloth, and a crowd of white-clad onlookers stands in the background.2008-10-08Night-time outdoor ritual at an open-sided pavilion. Dozens of seated women in saris and salwar kameez, many in orange, red, magenta, blue and yellow, sit on the paved floor facing a raised platform at right. On the platform, a row of women in white and green garlanded saris sit in front of a bright fire pit. Standing near the platform, a man in an orange turban and orange robe holds a lamp, while other robed attendees in saffron and orange stand behind him. A large oil lamp and small lamps are lit in front. A black bull statue draped with garlands sits at left, and a green banner with a world-map graphic hangs at top right.2016-10-29October 17 20122012-10-17A night homa in an open-sided pavilion strung with leaf garlands and paper lanterns. A sunken fire pit with a bright flame sits in the foreground, flanked by brass plates of offerings. Several women in red, orange and maroon saris sit cross-legged on low green-cushioned seats in front, facing the fire. Behind them a large crowd of devotees, many men bare-chested in white dhotis and others in saffron and orange clothing, stands with palms joined in prayer. On the left, a carved gold-and-red throne with cushions is set beside a person holding a ceremonial lamp in a red shawl. No identifiable a person is confirmed in this frame.2016-10-10A night outdoor homa at a KAILASA ashram during a satsang. A central figure seated on a silver-backed wooden throne with gold legs wears saffron robes, a long rudraksha-style mala and gold necklaces, with long swept-back hair. Before a square fire pit with burning wood, seated disciples in orange and saffron robes with gold borders, many with shaved heads and malas, sit in rows and hold offerings; women in red-and-gold saris and malas sit nearby. A woman in an orange sari stands at the upper right, and string lights hang overhead. Brass vessels, a plate of offerings and sticks of wood lie around the fire pit.2013-03-10September 26 20092009-09-26