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A photograph of a homa fire ritual in a open-sided hall with a banana-leaf canopy and hanging banana bunches overhead. A fire burns in a brick fire pit in the foreground, with a man in a white dhoti and cream shawl holding up a red-and-gold cloth bundle, presumably an offering, above it. Beside him a man in a dark teal shirt and white dhoti holds a cloth bag, and a bare-chested priest in a white dhoti stands with a metal plate. Behind them, a group of people in saffron and orange robes, some with rudraksha malas, stand with hands folded in prayer. A woman in a dark green sari with gold trim stands at right, hands joined, and an older man in white stands at far left with hands raised in namaskar. Brass vessels and paper items lie on the floor.

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September 24 20122012-09-24 +1 copiesA homa fire burns on the floor of a open hall with unfinished concrete pillars and a banana-leaf and bunch-of-bananas canopy overhead. In the foreground, a priest in white dhoti and shawl, with a red rudraksha-style mala, holds a long ladle or spoon raised over the flames. Beside him a second priest in a yellow shawl and white dhoti holds a small red offering vessel, and a woman in a dark sari with floral print bows her head near the altar. Flower heaps of marigolds, pink lotuses and green leaves surround the fire. Behind, a standing group of devotees in orange and saffron robes and white clothing watches, including a man with a rudraksha-style necklace and a few women in red and orange saris. A figure in white dhoti stands at the left edge.2012-09-24A homa fire ritual in a open-sided hall with brick pillars and a thatched or leafy ceiling. A fire burns in a rectangular stone fire pit with ash, and a red kalasha-like pot decorated with flowers sits in the flames. A priest in white dhoti with red-and-gold border and a red beaded necklace stands at right holding a brass ladle and a bowl of offering. Beside him, a bare-chested man in a dark shirt and white dhoti holds a brass dish. Behind them, a group of people in saffron and orange robes and rudraksha malas stand with hands folded in prayer, and a few in white stand at left. Flower garlands and a tray of offerings lie at lower left.2012-09-24September 24 20122012-09-24A photograph of a homa ritual in a hall with a bare concrete floor and a palm-leaf canopy overhead. In the foreground a fire pit burns with a red cloth offering decorated with flowers, and smoke rises. A man in a white dhoti with a red-and-gold waist cloth holds a brass bowl over the flames while a man in blue and red-striped dhoti pours from a tray. Standing behind them, a group of people in saffron and orange robes, some with rudraksha malas, stand with palms pressed together in prayer. Several men in white dhotis and a child in white also stand nearby, with a floral offering and brass vessels on the floor at left.2012-09-24September 24 20122012-09-24Photo of a homa fire ritual in a brick-walled hall with banana leaves hanging overhead. In the foreground a fire pit holds burning wood and a red cloth bundle decorated with flowers. A bare-chested man in a white dhoti and cream shawl, with red garland, pours a ghee-like offering from a wooden ladle over the flames. A man in a dark blue shirt holds a metal bowl beside him. Behind them, a row of people in orange and saffron robes and white dhotis stand with palms together, some wearing rudraksha malas, while a child in white stands among them. A small plate of flowers and offerings sits at left.2012-09-24A Vedic Rudra homa is underway outdoors before a large seated gathering. In the centre, a bare-chested priest with a saffron-and-white turban and a green-and-gold sash pours an offering from a small vessel into a brick fire pit where flames rise high. Beside him, another bare-chested priest in white dhoti with a pink-and-purple shawl holds his hands together in prayer. At right stands a young assistant in an orange-brown shawl and rudraksha mala beside an ornately decorated altar with carved figures and flower garlands. Brass lamps, offering bowls and baskets of grains sit on the ground. Behind them, rows of devotees in white with red shawls sit or stand, many with palms joined.2016-07-02 +1 copiesA homa fire ceremony inside a hall with white draped cloth overhead and a decorated shrine behind. A fire burns in a brick fire pit decorated with flowers and marigold garlands, with brass vessels and a plate beside it. A bare-chested priest with a shaved head sits at the fire, holding a flower-garlanded object, wearing an orange-red shawl. A man in white with an orange-red shawl stands with palms pressed together. Women in white saris with gold borders and orange-red shawls assist at the left, and a seated woman in a red-and-gold sari extends her hand toward the fire at lower right. Many seated devotees fill the background, and a deity murti sits in an arched shrine.2015-07-17July 17 20152015-07-17July 17 20152015-07-17July 17 20152015-07-17