Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
Night ritual at an open-air fire pit lined with yellow-painted wood, where a bright flame rises from burning wood and smoke drifts upward. Several shaven-headed priests in saffron-brown robes and rudraksha malas sit with palms pressed together in prayer near the fire. Behind them, more devotees in white dhotis sit on the ground, and a figure in brown cloth with a bare upper body moves nearby. On the right, a man in a brown dhoti and red-brown shawl sits on a red carpet wearing a white flower garland and a red flower, beside brass vessels and a small lamp. Silver-framed panels and a large ornate silver structure stand in the background.

More like this

Open the gallery
Night homa at an outdoor ritual site. A square yellow-painted fire pit with a bright blaze sits in the foreground. Several shaved-headed men in saffron-brown robes with red-marked foreheads and rudraksha malas sit with hands folded in namaskar along the left. On the right, a robed figure in saffron clothing wears a long red and white flower garland and sits on a raised seat with a silver backrest, with red and patterned rugs and copper vessels before him. Behind, more devotees in white and orange sit under a tent roof, with a brass kalasha-like pillar and a fan at the edge. A portion of the scene is partly obscured by a lamp.2014-10-27October 27 20142014-10-27November 04 20132013-11-04A night outdoor homa at a temple-like setting: a square stone fire pit with a large flame burns in the centre, and a man in a saffron-orange dhoti and shawl with a red-orange turban sits at the right, adorned with rudraksha-style beads, a gold necklace and bangles, while the seated congregation in orange and saffron robes, many with shaved heads, presses palms together in prayer. Behind them a crowd stands under string lights and festoons, a pink-and-gold deity murti is decorated at the top right, and brass vessels and oil lamps sit on a leopard-print cloth near the fire. a person cues: turban, ornate gold necklace and bangles, and central seated position, with a saffron shawl; he appears to be the officiating presence at the homa.2013-07-22Night homa ritual around a square brick fire pit with a tall flame. Several shaved-headed priests in saffron-orange robes with white and red forehead markings and rudraksha malas sit cross-legged, some with raised hands toward the fire. A priest seated at right on a silver-backed throne in orange robes holds a metal plate, while a handheld offering vessel and small brass pots sit near the fire. Audience hands are visible in the foreground.2014-09-16October 27 20142014-10-27Night-time Ganapati homa at an outdoor ashram setting. A golden-yellow square fire pit holds a flaming fire, with smoke rising. Several priests sit around it in saffron/orange robes and white dhotis, with rudraksha malas and white forehead markings; the priest at right wears a red and gold turban and white garment with gold border and offers something into the fire. Silver and brass vessels, a small pot with yellow flowers, and bowls of grain sit at the edges. Behind them a seated audience in white and red-sashed clothing fills the background, with a microphone stand visible at left. A partial garland hangs in the background.2014-10-11August 01 20142014-08-01A night homa in progress at an outdoor ritual area. A central yellow-gold fire pit blazes with large flames. Behind it, a man in an orange turban and rudraksha mala sits cross-legged with hands joined above the fire. Around him, several shaved-headed priests in saffron-orange dhotis sit on striped mats, tending the fire and handling offering trays of sticks and flower petals. Standing behind them, men in white dhotis with gold borders and bare upper bodies hold their hands together in prayer. Gold ornamental arches, brass lamps and a pink flower-filled bowl are visible at the edges.2017-09-17 +1 copiesNight-time fire ritual by the water's edge at a riverside ghat. A brick fire pit with burning wood sits at the centre, surrounded by brass vessels, pots, flower petals and small oil lamps. A saffron-robed figure with a rudraksha mala stands at the back, beside a silver-framed throne under a trident-topped canopy, holding a ladle over a bowl. Around the pit, several people in red and maroon robes and rudraksha malas sit with palms pressed together in prayer, and a shaved-headed devotee in the foreground wears an orange bead garland. Purple light and smoke fill the background. Possibly a homa or yagna. a person candidate is saffron-robed and garlanded, seated by the throne but identity is uncertain from appearance.2014-08-01A photograph of a homa fire ceremony in a tent setting. A fire burns in a yellow-brick fire pit with kindling. A man in a purple shawl with a gold chain pours or offers an item from a spoon into the fire, while a man in orange and red dhoti-style clothing with a shawl sits at right holding a small vessel. Behind them, a man in red and orange clothes holds a basket of offerings, and a woman in white and gold stands at left. Steel bowls, a brass lamp and rows of white cups or shell-like offerings sit on shelves at right, with a small deity murti visible at far right.2015-09-14A homa fire ceremony in a tent shrine. A brick-lined fire pit holds burning wood with flames rising, surrounded by ash and flower petals. A shaved-headed man in rust-red dhoti and gold necklace sits at left. A seated man in orange robes and a rudraksha mala sits centrally, with a man in purple shawl and gold chain at right reaching toward the fire with a ladle or offering. Standing priests in white and saffron-red garments with rudraksha malas stand behind. Brass lamps, silver and gold ritual vessels, decorated deity figures, and trays of white offering cups fill the background. Five to six people are visible.2015-09-14