Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
A photograph of a homa fire ritual in a hall with latticed windows. A figure in an orange robe and orange head wrap, with a long flower garland and rudraksha mala, bends over a square brick fire pit, reaching toward the flames. Behind him a priest in an orange wrap, white dhoti and pearl necklace stands with hands folded. In the foreground, shirtless priests with sacred ash markings sit near offering trays of rice, coconuts, pink lotus flowers and jasmine garlands. Seated devotees in white and a man in yellow watch from the background, and a standing man with palms pressed together appears at the left edge.

More like this

Open the gallery
Outdoor foundation-laying ceremony under a canopy with striped and tasselled fabric overhead. A man in an orange turban, orange cloth and a white-and-yellow-and-red garland stands at a sand pit lined with yellow bricks, bending forward with his hands near the ground, as a bare-chested older man with a white beard, orange robe and red-and-white garland kneels beside him. A man in white kneels at left holding offerings, another in white leans in at right beside a metal pot, and a bearded man in orange stands at far left. Floral kolam designs decorate the sand around the pit, with a brass plate of offerings nearby. The scene shows a bhoomi pooja at a land inauguration.2006-11-24February 27 20162016-02-27 +1 copiesJuly 18 20132013-07-18November 07 20002000-11-07A night-time ritual at an outdoor ceremony. A smiling man with long dark hair and a red forehead mark stands at the left in an orange robe with gold trim, a white and red flower garland around his neck, holding a lit oil lamp or fire vessel above a brick-lined area. Beside him, a row of men and women in white dhotis and orange shawls stand behind a square earthen pit lined with flowers and white painted patterns, a fire-pit style yagna setup. A woman in white with an orange shawl holds a long trident staff, and a silver bowl of flowers and a wooden throne-like seat with carved ornament stand nearby. Orange and red pennants and draped red-gold cloth decorate the background.2007-01-01Outdoor foundation-laying ceremony under a canopy of striped and tasselled cloth with mango-leaf festoons. Foreground, a man in white shirt and trousers kneels in a sand pit, pouring a pink flower over yellow bricks laid in the foundation, with kolam-style coloured rangoli patterns on the ground. Center, a tall man in saffron-orange robes and an orange turban wears a white and multicoloured flower garland and stands at the pit's edge, facing down. Behind, a bare-shouldered elder in an orange garment with a flower garland and another man in cream cloth are present, with white-clad devotees and a metal pot nearby.2006-11-24November 24 20062006-11-24A photograph of a Hindu ritual performed on a stage before a floral-decorated throne with gold lion-shaped armrests. In the foreground, an elderly man with white hair, glasses, white forehead markings and a rudraksha mala holds a small metal cup and pours liquid over a seated younger man, who sits in front of a tray of offerings. The offerings include a brass bowl, a pile of fresh flowers and garlands, pink and purple cloth-wrapped packets, a kalasha-like pot, and stacked red-and-yellow blocks. Behind them, a man in orange robes, a golden necklace, rudraksha beads and a saffron head cloth sits on the throne with garlands draped over it. Several bare-chested men in white dhotis with sandalwood markings sit nearby, and a man in a red-and-gold turban stands at the right edge. Microphones, a speaker and a silver lamp stand complete the scene. This appears to be an abhishekam or puja, but the exact rite is uncertain.2013-07-18A homa ritual in an indoor hall with a brick fire pit in the foreground, flames rising from it. A figure in saffron-orange robes and an orange turban sits on a cushioned seat at left, with white sandalwood markings on the arms, holding a ladle and facing the fire; a microphone stands beside him. Seated in white ritual clothes, devotees fold their hands in prayer and watch, while a man in white holds a brass vessel with a burning flame. Brass pots and a kalasha sit near the fire, and a framed portrait hangs on the wall above lattice windows. Whether the saffron-robed priest is a person cannot be determined from appearance alone, so the identity is left uncertain.2004-07-02A photograph of a homa fire ceremony in an indoor hall with a brick fire pit filled with wood and surrounded by pink lotus flowers and marigold garlands. A standing man in a saffron-orange robe with an orange turban and a long white-and-purple flower garland holds an oil lamp over the pit. Beside him, a bearded man in an orange shawl and white dhoti stands with folded hands, and a bare-chested man in white kneels at the pit's edge. On the right, an older bald man in a white dhoti and rudraksha mala gestures toward the flame, while a woman in a yellow sari stands behind him. Seated devotees in white and yellow clothing fill the background, and a pink cloth and brass vessels sit on the floor.2004-06-12A photograph of a foundation-laying ceremony outdoors under a striped and fringed canopy. In the centre, a man in an orange saffron robe and orange turban, wearing a white flower garland, pours water from a steel pot onto a pit where yellow bricks are set. Beside him, an elderly bearded man in orange robes and a white garland kneels to the left, and a shirtless priest with a rudraksha mala stands behind. Around them, men in white dhotis and shirts watch closely, and a seated man in white clothes holds a small dish. The ground around the pit is decorated with coloured rangoli patterns and scattered petals, and offerings sit on a tray beside it.2006-11-24A seated fire ritual at AadiKailaasa during Navaratri: a man in saffron robes and a patterned blue-and-white conical cap sits behind a brick-like fire pit (homa kunda) strewn with yellow and white flowers, holding a metal bell and ritual rod. Beside him, a boy in white dhoti and shawl with a tilak and rudraksha mala sits with palms joined, and a woman in an orange sari holds an oil lamp aloft. Brass vessels, a plate of yellow offerings, garlands and a small deity murti sit on the mat.2007-10-12