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A homa fire ritual in progress: a brick-lined fire pit blazes with flames, decorated with yellow and pink flowers and straw. A man in white dhoti and shawl with purple border sits cross-legged with hands folded in prayer, wearing glasses and a gold bracelet, beside a brass vessel with a ladle. Behind him a seated woman in white sari with dark border and a woman in blue and orange sari, with a man in white on the right, watch in attendance. Brass pots, banana fruits, sticks, flower-garlanded plates and a green draped backdrop surround the scene.

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A homa fire burns in a brick-lined fire pit on a tiled floor, decorated with marigold petals and yellow flowers. A man in white ritual clothing with a white shawl sits cross-legged before the fire with his palms pressed together in prayer, a microphone stand beside him. A ladle rests on the fire pit edge and brass vessels, fruit, a steel bowl of flower petals and a plate of offerings lie on a low wooden tray nearby. Behind, a green draped backdrop hangs and several seated devotees watch, including a woman in a blue and orange sari and a woman in a white and black sari. A yellow cloth hangs from above.A photograph of a homa fire ritual in a temple-like hall. A man in white dhoti and white shawl with a bare upper body sits cross-legged at a brick fire pit, where flames rise from burning offerings decorated with marigold and rose petals. He holds a bowl of petals and flowers, and a brass spoon-ladle rests on the brick edge. Nearby on a silver plate are pomegranates, bananas and sugarcane pieces. Behind him a woman in a white and black sari stands near a microphone, a younger woman in orange and white stands behind, and seated devotees include a woman in a blue and red sari with gold jewellery and a man in white dhoti and striped shirt. Green draped cloth forms the backdrop.A photograph of a homa ritual in progress at a brick fire pit. Burning wood sends bright flames up from the center of the pit, decorated with flower petals and a bundle of straw. A woman in a white and gold-bordered sari sits cross-legged at left, holding a ladle-like implement over the fire. Beside her a woman in white with an orange shawl and a red-and-orange sari sits near a microphone stand, and a child in a yellow outfit with glasses watches. A green draped backdrop stands behind them. Brass vessels, a tray of flowers and fruit, and bowls of food sit at left, with a few more devotees at the right edge.A photograph of a homa or yagna at an indoor ritual space with a green draped backdrop. A man in white ritual dhoti and shirt with a purple-bordered cloth holds a metal vessel of burning flame over a fire pit on the floor. Two women in white saris stand on either side with palms pressed together in prayer. A seated person in white clothes with an orange shawl sits behind the fire. Trays of offerings, flowers, coconut, sticks and a bowl of grains lie on mats in front of the fire, and a microphone stand is visible at right.A photograph of a homa fire ceremony in progress. A fire burns in a brick-lined fire pit decorated with yellow flowers and leaves, with a bowl and offerings beside it. A man in white dhoti and white shirt sits cross-legged behind the fire pit, holding a ritual object near his face, with bracelets on his wrist. Beside him, a woman in white sari with glasses sits at a tray holding grass and offerings. Behind them a green draped backdrop hangs, and to the right seated women in coloured saris and men in white dhotis watch, while standing spectators line the back under a bamboo structure. The lower corner shows a partly visible person.A photograph of a homa fire ceremony in progress. A large flame rises from a fire pit lined with straw and orange cloth, decorated with yellow flowers. A person in white clothing with a light shawl stands behind the fire with hands folded. Beside them, a seated figure in a saffron-orange shawl and white garments tends the fire. Trays of flowers, brass vessels, a kalasha-like pot, and offering plates sit on a mat to the left. Behind, a green draped backdrop and seated women in saris watch; a standing microphone stands near the fire. A white-clad attendant is at the right edge.A homa fire burns in a brick-lined pit on a low wooden platform at an indoor ritual. A woman in white sari with gold border sits cross-legged with palms pressed together in prayer, wearing glasses and bangles. Beside her a younger woman in white with an orange shawl and a rudraksha-style mala sits near a microphone stand. Brass vessels, a copper bowl with a ladle, flower petals, and grains lie on the platform, with a green draped backdrop and a standing man in white dhoti behind. Several other people sit in the background.A homa or yagna ritual in progress beside a fire pit of stacked wooden logs with flowers scattered around it. A woman in the centre in a white sari with a gold-bordered shawl and rudraksha mala holds a lit oil lamp aloft with her right hand, her left hand held near her chest. To the right, a woman in white with an orange shawl and mala sits with palms pressed together before a microphone stand, and a woman in an orange sari sits behind her. At left, a seated figure in white with folded hands is partly visible. Brass vessels, a bowl of flowers and coconut-shaped offerings sit on a low wooden table, and a green draped backdrop hangs behind.A man in a white dhoti and white shawl stands before a large open fire, holding a brass plate with a flame and offerings above the fire. He has a rudraksha-style mala around his neck. To his left a woman in a white sari with gold border holds a small brass vessel; to his right a woman in white with hands folded in namaskar stands before a green draped backdrop with banana leaves. A seated young woman in white with an orange shawl sits near a microphone, and brass bowls with flowers, sticks and offerings lie on a mat in the foreground. A photo of a smiling woman is pinned on the wall behind, and a decorative pillar with painted elephants and flowers stands at right.A homa fire burns in a brick-lined pit in front of a green draped backdrop. Three women sit on the floor in white and gold clothing, one in glasses at center, one in an orange-and-white shawl with a rudraksha mala at right, and one in orange at right background. The woman at left holds a metal plate of flowers and petals, and the central woman makes an offering gesture. Offering trays with fruit, nuts, flowers and a bowl with a ladle sit beside the fire, and a microphone stands at right. A child in a yellow top and a few other people sit in the background.A homa or fire ritual at an outdoor pandal with a green draped backdrop and banana leaves. A man in white dhoti and shirt stands at a fire, extending his hands over the flames while holding flower petals. Beside him a woman in a white sari with gold border holds a silver tray of offerings and a rudraksha mala. Seated devotees in the background include a woman in a white sari and another in a red-orange top, with brass lamps and bowls on the mat below.Outdoor Rudra homa fire ritual. A bare-chested priest in a yellow head cloth and white dhoti, wearing a rudraksha mala and gold beaded necklace, feeds offerings into a large flame rising from a pit built of stacked yellow-ochre bricks decorated with red flower petals. Behind him, a crowd of dozens of people in white clothes and red shawls sit in rows, many with orange forehead marks and orange lanyards. Brass vessels, a basket of grain, flowers and fruit lie on a green cloth in the foreground. A few people in white stand at the back of the crowd.2016-07-02