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A photograph of a ritual in a covered tent hall. In the foreground, a man in a white dhoti with a maroon-and-gold shawl stands beside a round blue-draped altar holding a flower-garlanded mandala of yellow and red powders and marigold strands. Behind it, a bald man in a maroon-and-gold shawl and a white-clad man with a red shawl and beaded necklaces perform the rite with their hands together. Rows of brass lamp stands and offering trays fill the floor, and a decorated deity murti with marigold garlands stands at the right. Several white-clad devotees sit behind them under draped cloth, and brass bowls of offerings sit in the lower left.

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July 17 20152015-07-17July 17 20152015-07-17A homa ritual in a covered hall with a fire pit at lower centre, flames rising from offerings of flowers, sweets and leaves. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti with a pink-and-yellow turban sits behind the fire pit. A man in white dhoti and brown shawl at right holds a stick near a tall gold-and-red altar with a deity murti draped in marigold garlands. Standing figures in orange and brown robes and white dhotis surround a blue-draped platform with brass kalasha vessels. Brass lamps stand in rows at left, and devotees sit in the background. A white cloth backdrop hangs behind the scene. Visible people number about twenty.2015-07-17A homa ritual in a covered hall with white tent draping. A seated priest in a red turban and rudraksha mala tends a fire pit with burning flames, surrounded by marigold garlands, flower bowls and brass vessels. Standing figures in saffron and ochre robes stand behind a blue-draped altar; one bald man in white dhoti and saffron shawl holds his hands together, and a monk in rust-coloured robes operates a microphone. A golden kalasha stands on a decorated base with a decorated deity murti behind. Several seated devotees in white are visible at the left and right edges.2015-07-17July 17 20152015-07-17July 17 20152015-07-17July 17 20152015-07-17A photograph of a ritual inside a white tented hall. A man in a maroon and red-brown dhoti-style garment and a rudraksha-style mala stands at right, speaking into a handheld microphone while gesturing toward a large floral mandala on a blue-draped table, decorated with gold and garland-like borders, red powder and marigold-style petals. A woman in a dark orange-brown sari stands behind him. Rows of brass oil lamps on tiered stands surround the mandala. Seated devotees in white and cream clothes and maroon shawls fill the background, with a camera on a tripod at left and bright floral garlands at right edge. The setting suggests a homa or samaya deeksha ceremony, with a visible mandala process.2015-07-17A photo of a ritual hall with a white tent ceiling. In the centre, a large blue-draped platform holds a tall brass sculpture decorated with yellow and orange marigold garlands and a kalasha-like top. On the right, two gold-decorated deity murti sit on a red-draped throne with marigold garlands. In the foreground, priests in white dhotis sit on the floor beside brass lamps, flower-decorated pots and offering plates; one wears an orange turban and another an orange shawl. Standing devotees in white and saffron-brown clothing gather on the left, one man in white kurta holding folded hands near a golden ceremonial umbrella-like canopy. Fruit, flowers and marigolds are arranged on the floor.2015-07-17July 17 20152015-07-17A ritual scene during a homa for samaya deeksha. A shaved-headed monastic in saffron-orange robes and rudraksha mala stands at a decorated mandala table covered in blue cloth, with a yellow and red powder design bordered by gold beads and marigold petals. Beside him a man in white dhoti with an orange-red shawl holds a flower and offering over the mandala. A woman in maroon sari with a rudraksha mala holds a small object, and another woman in a brown sari stands near a floral-garlanded silver pedestal. On the right a man in white dhoti and gold-bordered shawl with a rudraksha mala stands by flower garlands. Behind them tiered brass lamp stands and seated devotees fill a white-draped hall.2015-07-17A photograph of a ritual at a large tented ceremony hall. In the foreground a blue-draped round altar holds a colourful sand or powder mandala decorated with gold-coloured beads, flowers and small lamps. A shaved-headed priest in an orange-brown dhoti and rudraksha mala stands at the altar, pouring from a small vessel. To the right, a bearded man in a white dhoti with a purple-and-gold shawl and rudraksha mala stands watching. A young child in white clothes presses hands together. Brass oil lamps stand on a tiered stand and devotees in saffron and maroon garments fill the background beneath a white canopy. Gold brass vessels and offerings lie on the left.2015-07-17