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A priest in saffron robes and a saffron head wrap sits cross-legged on a white cloth at a homa fire pit built of white bricks, holding a ladle and offering into the flames while smoke rises. Around him are brass bowls of offerings, fruit plates of bananas, grapes and cut fruit, and a green coconut-like kalasha in a woven basket. Behind the fire pit, a framed portrait of a saffron-robed man with long hair and beads sits at the back of a decorated altar, flanked by garlands, with a small deity murti and oil lamps. Three young people in white ritual clothes with tilak sit on the right, watching the ceremony.

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A photograph of a homa or yagna in an indoor hall. A priest in orange robes and a head wrap, with a tilak on his forehead, sits at left and pours an offering with a long ladle into a small brick fire pit where a flame burns. Behind him a framed portrait of a bearded, long-haired man in orange robes with a rudraksha mala, hands raised in blessing, is garlanded with yellow and orange marigolds. A white-draped table holds a blue and gold deity murti and brass oil lamps. In front, rows of brass plates hold offerings, and fruit such as bananas, grapes and apples sits on a white cloth. Three young women in white dress with rudraksha malas sit cross-legged at right on a mat. Palm fronds decorate the yellow walls.2007-10-21A seated priest in an orange robe and white dhoti performs a homa at a brick fire pit on a white-draped table, holding a brass plate of yellow and orange marigold petals. He has a white vertical tilak on his forehead. To the left stands a young man in white with a rudraksha mala. Behind the fire pit, several young people in white clothes sit cross-legged, some with white tilak and beaded necklaces. A framed portrait on the wall, garlanded with marigolds and red flowers, shows a figure in orange seated in meditation, and a small brass deity murti in blue and gold sits on the table beside a red kalasha. Brass oil lamps and offerings surround the fire pit.2007-10-21A photograph of a homa fire ritual in an indoor hall with a pale yellow wall. A man in saffron robes and a saffron head covering sits cross-legged on a white cloth at left, pouring from a ladle over a brick fire pit with burning flames. Behind the fire, a framed portrait of a saffron-robed man with a long beaded necklace is garlanded with yellow and red flowers and set on a white-draped table, with a blue deity murti, a brass lamp and a kalasha. Several girls in white clothes sit on mats at right, and brass bowls with flowers sit in the foreground. A printed caption on the portrait area is not legible enough to copy. Palm leaves decorate the wall.2007-10-21A homa ritual in a bare hall with pale yellow walls decorated with green leaf sprigs. A man in orange robes and a matching orange head wrap bows with folded hands before a fire pit built from pale bricks and containing burnt wood and ash. Behind him, a framed portrait of a long-haired man in orange robes and a white and red beaded necklace sits on a white-draped table ringed with orange and red marigold garlands. Brass oil lamps, a small brass kalasha and a deity murti stand on the table. Around the fire pit lie brass plates of fruit, sweets, white and orange offerings, and rows of small brass dishes. Seated to the right, about six young women in white salwar-kameez and white headscarves listen on floor mats.2007-10-21A photograph of a homa fire ceremony in a hall with pale yellow walls decorated with green leaf sprays. A priest in orange robes with a shaved head and white forehead markings kneels at a brick fire pit, pouring an offering with a long ladle into a flame. A framed portrait of a man in orange robes with a white beaded necklace, raised hand, seated before a tree, sits above a white-draped altar with garlands, a brass lamp, a blue deity murti and a kalasha. Four people in white clothes sit cross-legged on the right, and brass bowls of offerings and oil lamps fill the foreground.2007-10-21A homa or fire ritual in a plain room with pale yellow walls. A priest in saffron-orange robes, with a saffron head wrap and gold bangles, stands at left holding a brass lamp with a flame toward a fire pit of stacked bricks, with smoke rising. Behind the altar a framed photograph shows a smiling man in orange robes and a rudraksha mala seated before a tree, flanked by marigold and red flower garlands. The altar has a brass deity murti and a small silver figure, with brass lamps, bowls, bananas, a pineapple and marigolds on the floor. Two young people in white sit cross-legged at right on mats.2007-10-21A photograph of a ritual in an indoor hall with a framed portrait of a seated figure in orange robes and a garland of yellow and orange flowers on the wall. Below it a white-draped altar holds a blue deity murti, brass lamps and marigolds. In front, a fire pit of stacked stones with a copper vessel sits on a white cloth covered with rows of small brass lamps, plus bowls of fruit, coconuts, grains and red powder. A person in an orange shawl and a man in white sit at the fire pit performing a homa/yagna. About two dozen young people in white clothes and rudraksha malas sit in rows with hands folded in prayer. The scene shows a homa with offerings.2007-10-21A photograph of a homa ritual in a hall. A man in saffron-orange robes with a draped head covering kneels at left, holding a ladle over a brick fire pit with burning embers and smoke. Behind him a white-draped altar holds a deity murti, brass oil lamps, a kalasha and a framed portrait labelled "Paramahamsa Nithyananda" on the wall, decorated with yellow and red flowers. Two girls in white sit at right watching. Brass bowls filled with grains, fruits and offerings are arranged on a white cloth in the foreground, with flower petals scattered around the pit.2007-10-21A photograph of a homa ritual in a hall with pale yellow walls. A standing priest in an orange robe and orange head wrap holds a brass lamp with a flame in his right hand, with a bracelet on that wrist. Smoke rises from a brick fire pit with fruit, marigolds and brass vessels in front of him. Behind the fire pit, a white-draped altar holds a small deity murti, brass lamps and a kalasha. A large framed portrait of a seated figure in orange robes with a rudraksha mala, flanked by marigold garlands and greenery, hangs on the back wall. Three or four seated young people in white garments sit on the floor at the right and left edges, with palms joined in one case.2007-10-21A photograph of a homa-style ritual in a hall with pale yellow walls decorated with green leaf sprigs and marigolds. A seated priest in saffron-orange robes, with an orange head covering, holds a lamp aloft with one hand, its flame rising. In front of him is a low brick fire pit with marigold petals, brass vessels, a kalasha-style pot, and trays of fruit and offerings. Behind the altar, a framed portrait labelled "Paramahamsa Nithyananda" shows a saffron-robed figure with a garland, surrounded by yellow and red marigold garlands. A blue deity murti stands on the white-draped altar beside brass lamps. Two people in white sit at the right edge of the frame.2007-10-21A standing priest in orange saffron robes and a saffron head wrap holds a ladle-like brass stick and a flame over a brick fire pit where a homa is performed, with white smoke rising. Behind him, a framed portrait shows a figure in orange robes and a pearl necklace, surrounded by marigold and red garlands, above a draped white altar with brass oil lamps and offerings. Three seated children in white clothes sit on mats at right, with their hands joined in prayer. Marigold petals, bananas and bowls of offerings lie around the fire pit.2007-10-21A photograph of a ritual homa inside a hall with pale yellow walls. A standing man in orange robes holds a flaming vessel overhead while facing an altar draped in white. Behind the altar, a framed portrait of a man seated in orange robes with a beaded necklace, its frame garlanded with yellow and red flowers. Before the altar sits a small deity murti in blue and gold, and a brick-lined fire pit burns with marigold offerings. Brass oil lamps stand on both sides, a white-robed attendant holds a bell, and two children in white sit on the floor at right. Palm leaves and marigold decorations hang on the walls.2007-10-21