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A night homa fire ceremony in an open courtyard. A large yellow-painted square fire pit holds a burning fire, with rice, flower petals, plates of fruit, lime and coconut offerings arranged around it. A bare-chested man with a red rudraksha mala and red cloth sits on a raised seat at the right, extending his arm toward the fire. Around him, numerous men in white dhoti and shawls sit on striped mats, and many women in white saris sit in rows behind them. A man at left holds a microphone and chants. Roughly 40 to 60 people are visible.

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April 28 20172017-04-28Outdoor night homa at a yellow-tiled fire pit with a large flame rising from the centre. Several men in white dhotis sit cross-legged around it, one pouring ghee or offerings and another holding a copper vessel. A bare-chested man with a red-orange shawl and rudraksha mala sits on a raised seat to the right, with trays of fruit, flowers, coconuts, rice and small brass bowls before the fire. Behind them a large group of white-clad devotees, many wearing rudraksha malas, stands on a mat-covered floor beneath string lights and a tall lamp.2017-04-28Outdoor fire ritual (homa) at night. A tiered yellow brick altar with a blazing fire at its top is decorated with red flower petals and a white powder dusting. Four men in front sit on a green mat: the man at left in an orange shawl and beaded necklaces speaks into a microphone, a man in the center wears a teal cloth and a mala, a man next to him wears an orange shawl and a mala, and a bare-chested man at right wears a red-and-pink shawl and white dhoti. Brass oil lamps, a kalasha-style vessel, bananas, fruit and flower offerings sit on the mat. Behind them rows of seated devotees in white and red garments fill the space, with a painted deity murti at upper left.2016-07-03August 29 20142014-08-29Outdoor fire ritual at dusk: a large square fire pit with a tall flame stands in the foreground, decorated with white kolam-style dots and scattered pink flower petals. A bearded priest with a shaved-headed, long-haired appearance wears an ornate red garment and a long beaded garland, holding an open book and gesturing with one hand. Beside him a man in white dhoti sits and tends the fire, and another man in white sits to the right above trays of coconuts, betel leaves, fruit, puffed grains, pink flowers and brass vessels. About a dozen seated devotees in white clothes with red sashes sit on striped mats in the background, and a woman in an orange sari stands at the right edge.2016-04-03May 02 20172017-05-02Night outdoor homa in progress at a temple-style ritual site. A large yellow square fire pit with a bright flame sits in the foreground, decorated with purple floral garlands and white rangoli-style patterns. Behind it, a red-robed priest wearing a red turban and rudraksha mala pours offerings into the fire, while another red-turbaned priest beside him tends the flame. Several shirtless men in white dhotis with gold borders stand and sit around the area, some holding plates. On a striped cloth sit brass plates of pink flowers, sweets, kumkum, and lit oil lamps. Gold-framed decorative arches and a speaker stand are visible in the background. Whether the person in the orange and red robes is a person cannot be established from appearance alone.2017-09-17October 16 20102010-10-16 +2 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +2 copiesA night fire ritual at an open-air ceremonial site. A large tiered yellow homa platform holds a tall flame, with red flower petals scattered around it. A man with long matted hair, orange-red cloth, a rudraksha mala and a large ceremonial beaded garland sits behind the fire with a small bowl and a cloth-wrapped object, wearing dark-rimmed glasses. Beside him a man in white dhoti and shawl sits with a pink-bordered cloth. To the right, a man in a white shawl smiles near a low table laden with silver bowls of flowers, coconut, banana, fruit, and green vegetables. A seated line of people in white garments and orange shawls watches in the dark, lit by a single bright lamp. Hindu homa and yagna offerings are visible.2016-04-03A night-time homa fire ceremony in an open courtyard. A large wooden fire pit with a tiered, white-patterned base is ablaze, decorated with marigold flowers. A shirtless priest stands behind it, wearing a white dhoti and a long beaded necklace. Seated on a silver-edged platform to the right is a woman in a pink head wrap, a white sari with orange border and a long beaded garland, offering into the fire. Beside her a man in an orange shawl and orange-trimmed garland sits near brass vessels and offering bowls. Rows of seated devotees in white and saffron clothing fill a colourful striped mat behind them, and a dark deity murti stands in the background. Brass lamps and bowls rest on the foreground ground.2016-02-22October 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copies