Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
A photograph of a homa or yagna in a hall filled with white smoke. A square fire pit lined with white bricks and decorated with red flowers burns at centre, while a priest in an orange-red shawl kneels over it tending the flame with a ladle. Beside him, a man in red robes sits cross-legged and another in white kneels nearby. Brass oil lamps stand on the floor, and on the right a pyramid of cone-shaped offerings wrapped in netting is topped with yellow and orange flowers. Large deity murtis and a decorated backdrop are visible through the haze.

More like this

Open the gallery
A photograph of a homa ritual in a whitewashed hall with a corrugated roof. A brick fire pit lined with white bricks and scattered flower petals sits in the foreground, with a flame burning at its centre. Several people in orange and red robes sit on the mat-covered floor, including a man in white with a red shawl seated near the pit and a woman in white beside him. Behind them stand three deity murtis under decorated umbrellas, garlanded with flowers. To the right, a long table holds many baskets of coconuts, flowers and offerings wrapped in woven cane. Brass oil lamps stand on the floor, and smoke hangs in the air.2007-12-25December 25 20072007-12-25December 24 20072007-12-24Photo of a smoky ritual hall during a homa at a fire pit lined with white bricks. A standing priest in an orange-red garment and garland holds a golden trident and a lit flame, while seated devotees in white and orange sit before the fire. Behind them, a white bull statue with red and gold cloth and a deity murti are adorned with garlands. Brass-and-cane baskets with yellow flowers, a kalasha-style arrangement, and a cameraman with a tripod stand at left and centre. Pennants hang along the top of the wall.2007-12-26A photograph inside a whitewashed hall with a corrugated roof decorated with orange triangular pennants. A standing man in an orange dhoti and orange shawl, with a flower garland and long hair, holds a flaming vessel over a brick fire pit (homa kund) with yellow flowers and leaves around it. Around him, a row of seated devotees in white and orange clothing, several holding ceremonial staffs with gold tops, press palms together. Behind them, three deity murtis are decorated with garlands under ornate umbrellas, and a large tiered arrangement of brass kalasha pots with mango leaves stands on a white-draped platform. Brass lamps and offering bowls with flowers and grains sit on the mat in front, and a man in white stands at the rear. This appears to be a homa ritual. The standing man's clothing and hair are visible, but his face cannot be confirmed from appearance alone.2007-12-25December 25 20072007-12-25December 26 20072007-12-26December 25 20072007-12-25A homa ritual in a whitewashed hall hung with orange pennants. A standing figure in orange robes with a white flower garland holds a brass plate, with a burst of flame rising from it, over a brick fire pit. Seated devotees in white and orange clothing with palms pressed together surround the pit. Behind them, several figures in white hold tall ceremonial staffs. At the back, three decorated deity murti are shaded by colourful umbrellas, and a tiered arrangement of brass vessels with mango leaves stands on a white-draped table. Brass lamps and offering bowls sit on the floor.2007-12-25July 17 20152015-07-17December 30 20072007-12-30A photograph of a homa ritual inside a hall. Two priests in saffron-orange robes sit before a brick-built fire pit whose top is strewn with marigold petals, red flowers and fresh leaves. The priest at centre holds a brass plate of offerings and sticks over the pit. The priest at left, with bangles on his wrist, sits beside silver vessels, a bowl of fruit with oranges, flower garlands and a purple cloth bundle. At right a drummer in white clothes plays a drum, and a brass oil lamp stands nearby. Behind them a backdrop shows a deity murti in red and teal draping, with a rows of small oil lamps in the foreground. Two priests visible, plus one drummer and one partly visible person at the right edge.2007-12-30