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A 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.

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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 homa fire burns in a brick fire pit inside a room with pale green walls. A man in orange robes and an orange head wrap leans over the fire, offering yellow items into the flames with both hands. Behind him a seated figure in orange clothing tends the fire. A framed portrait above the altar, garlanded with marigolds and labelled Paramahamsa Nithyananda, shows a seated figure in orange with a rudraksha mala. On the right, young women in white garments sit on mats. Brass oil lamps, a brass vessel and marigold petals surround the altar. The officiant is a priest performing the fire ritual, not an appearance-based candidate.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 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 fire ritual in a plain hall with pale yellow walls. A man in orange robes and an orange head wrap stands at left, holding a brass plate of flaming camphor aloft with both hands; he wears a beaded necklace and gold bangles. Behind a low white-draped altar, a framed portrait of a saffron-robed figure seated with raised hand and beaded necklace is garlanded with marigolds and leaves. Before the altar sit a brass deity murti and small brass lamps, and a brick fire pit with burning wood, marigold petals and brass vessels lies in front. Seven or so young people in white clothes sit on mats at right and at left edge, watching the flame.2007-10-21Indoor ritual scene in a pale green room with small dark leaf decorations on the walls. A man in orange robes and an orange head wrap stands at left, holding a lit oil lamp aloft in a raised hand as he performs an aarti before a framed portrait of a man in orange robes and a long rudraksha-style necklace, raising one hand in blessing, with yellow marigold garlands around the frame. The portrait is a printed picture, not a physical person. Below, a white-draped table holds a small deity murti and brass lamps. In front, a homa fire burns in a stacked brick fire pit with offerings, and brass plates of food and flowers sit on a white cloth. Three young women in white clothes sit cross-legged on the floor at right, watching the ritual.2007-10-21A photograph of a homa at an indoor ritual space. A seated priest in orange robes and an orange head wrap sits cross-legged behind a brick fire pit where a flame burns, speaking into a microphone and holding a brass bowl. Standing at right, a young man in a white kurta leans forward to place offerings into the fire. Two young girls in white sit at the right edge watching. Behind the altar, a framed portrait labelled "Paramahamsa Nithyananda" shows a man in orange with a long garland, raising one hand, flanked by marigold garlands. Below, a deity murti and a kalasha sit on a white-draped table with brass lamps and marigolds on the floor. The seated priest's clothing and cues are not distinctive enough to confirm identity, so the a person field is unsure.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 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 ritual in a bare hall with pale green walls decorated with green leaf sprigs. A man in orange robes and an orange head wrap stands at left, holding a brass plate of offerings over a flaming fire pit lined with white bricks. Behind the fire, a framed portrait labelled "Paramahamsa Nithyananda" shows a seated figure in orange with a beaded necklace, garlanded with red and yellow flowers. On a white-draped table sit a blue deity murti and a small red-and-silver figure, flanked by brass oil lamps. Three girls in white dress sit at right, and a seated person in white is partly visible at lower left. Brass vessels, marigold petals and a plate of white powder lie on the floor.2007-10-21A homa is performed in an indoor hall before a framed portrait of a smiling man in saffron robes and a long rudraksha mala, garlanded with yellow and red flowers. A priest in saffron robes and an orange head wrap sits cross-legged at left, holding a wooden stick over a brick fire pit where flames rise, and speaks into a microphone. Before the portrait stands a white-draped altar with a red-clad deity murti, a blue-robed figure statue, brass lamps and kalasha pots. At right a young person in white kurta-pajama stoops to tend the fire with a long tool, while two people in white sit watching, one with curly hair. Marigold petals and a coconut lie around the fire pit.2007-10-21A man in orange robes and an orange head wrap stands at a brick fire pit performing a homa, tossing pieces of offering into the flames with his right hand from a brass plate. Behind him on a white-draped table are a blue deity murti, a small red-cushioned object, and a framed portrait garlanded with marigolds and red flowers, showing a figure in orange with a beaded necklace and raised hand. Two girls in white clothes sit on the right beside brass oil lamps. Brass bowls, a brass vessel, marigold petals and a yellow fruit sit at the fire pit's base.2007-10-21