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A photograph of a fire ritual at a temple-style stage. A standing figure with long dark hair wears a rust-red garment with gold border and a pink flower garland, and pours an offering into a flaming fire pit set on gold-coloured bricks. Behind, a large colourful painted deity figure with multiple arms holds weapons, and a golden arch frames a richly garlanded shrine with deity murti decorated in red and white flowers. Seated devotees in white dhotis and shawls sit with hands folded in prayer, some with brass vessels and oil lamps placed before them. The scene suggests a homa or yagna at a satsang setting.

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May 15 20132013-05-15A photograph of a homa ritual in a temple hall with a fire pit of bricks where a flame burns beside a decorated kalasha. A woman in a brown and gold-bordered dhoti with a pink and white flower garland stands holding a brass lamp with a lit flame, facing the fire. Beside her, a young man in saffron robes with a white tilak on his forehead stands holding a silver bowl. Seated devotees in white clothes, some with hands folded, face the fire. Behind them stands a colourful painted deity murti with multiple arms, and to the right a gold palanquin-style structure frames a shrine decorated with red and yellow flower garlands and two ornate deity figures.2013-05-15A homa fire ritual in a temple hall before a painted backdrop of a multi-armed deity with a trident and gold crown. Fire burns in a brick fire pit in the foreground with offerings, flowers and a brass vessel. Several priests stand at left in saffron-orange and maroon dhotis with gold borders, one with a flower garland and another with a shaved head, pouring from silver vessels. A seated man in white robes at right presses his palms together in prayer. Behind the fire, a gold-framed shrine holds deity murtis decorated with red, orange and yellow flower garlands and a gold palanquin-style seat. Several more seated devotees in white are visible at right.2013-05-15May 15 20132013-05-15A woman in an orange-and-gold sari with a red-and-white flower garland performs a fire ritual before a decorated altar. A homa fire burns on a square of yellow-brown bricks, surrounded by red and white flower arrangements. Behind, a gilded arch frames two decorated deity murti garlanded with red and yellow flowers, one holding a trident. Around her, men in white shirts and orange garments stand with palms pressed together, and a bare-chested young man in an orange robe with rudraksha mala kneels, attending the homa. Brass plates and vessels of offerings sit in the foreground, and a woman in white stands at the right edge. The setting is a colourful temple hall with teal and red walls.2013-05-17A photograph of a Hindu ritual in a decorated hall. A standing woman in a rust-orange and gold-bordered sari wears a pink and white flower garland and holds a small bowl. Nearby, a seated man in white dhoti and shawl with gold border, wearing glasses, presses his palms together before a fire pit of burning embers and flames, a homa or yagna. Other devotees in white and orange sit around the fire. Behind them stands a golden deity murti with multiple arms, a painted backdrop with pink and turquoise panels, a golden halo, and a shrine adorned with red and white flower garlands. Brass vessels, offerings and plates lie on the floor.2013-05-15A photograph of a temple-style puja inside a hall with painted pillars and a decorated shrine. A figure in an orange-brown robe with a gold border and long dark hair stands at the centre, hands extended over a small fire pit of ghee-soaked fuel blocks with flames and smoke rising. A shaven-headed attendant in orange robes on the left holds a silver tray and a silver bowl. Seated devotees in white clothes with folded hands sit behind the fire pit, and a seated man in white on the right. Behind, a gold canopy shelters a garlanded deity murti with flower garlands and red and orange drapery. Silver vessels and a kalasha sit in front, and a tall painted dvarapala figure with a mace stands at left. This appears to be a homa or yagna in progress.2013-05-13May 13 20132013-05-13May 13 20132013-05-13A photograph of a ritual homa in a temple hall. A standing man with long dark hair and a flower garland wears a rust-brown dhoti with gold borders and offers a flame from a brass vessel toward a fire pit of bricks. Beside him, a younger attendant in saffron-orange cloth with a white tilak holds a bowl. Seated devotees in white clothes sit with palms folded, and a deity murti stands in an ornate golden shrine decorated with red and white flower garlands. A golden palanquin-style canopy frames the scene, and brass pots and offerings lie on the floor in front.2013-05-15A photo of a homa fire ritual in a decorated temple-style hall. A man with long swept-back dark hair, wearing a rose-and-white flower garland, a rudraksha mala and a rust-brown dhoti with a gold-bordered cloth, stands holding a plate and offering. A fire burns in a yellow brick fire pit in front, with flower offerings and a brass kalasha nearby. A young attendant in an orange robe with white forehead markings holds a vessel, and a seated man in white clothes presses his palms together at right. Behind them stand a painted deity murti with a flaming crown and a golden chariot-like palanquin decorated with red and white flowers. Probable Swamiji is the standing man with long hair, saffron-brown clothing and rudraksha mala. Other people are seated or standing in white and brown ritual clothes.2013-05-15A temple ritual fire ceremony. A long-haired man in a rust-brown dhoti and orange-gold sash, wearing a pink-and-white flower garland, stands at center holding a silver bowl and reaching toward a golden ceremonial arch. To the left, saffron-robed attendants, one with a shaved head and white forehead markings, hold bowls and offerings. Several men in white kurtas sit or stand with hands folded in prayer. A fire burns in a brick pit at lower center, surrounded by brass lamps, offerings and a floral-decorated deity image on a gilded altar at right.2013-05-15