Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
Night-time homa ceremony at an outdoor ashram, with a yellow-painted square fire pit where a bright flame rises and smoke drifts upward. A man in a white dhoti and white shawl sits at the pit's edge, and a man in a maroon shawl stands on the right holding a ladle of offering toward the fire while another man in white holds a microphone. Priests and devotees in white, orange and maroon sit on mats behind, with string lights overhead and brass vessels, plates of flowers, fruit and offerings arranged around the pit. A golden deity murti or ornament stands at the left edge.

More like this

Open the gallery
Night-time homa at an outdoor ritual site under string lights, with smoke rising from a golden fire pit where a fire burns and sparks fly. Seated around it, a bare-chested man in a white and green-striped shawl presses his palms together while a man in white ritual clothes sits near the fire. Many participants in white garments with red-and-maroon shawls, some wearing beaded necklaces, sit on mats behind the fire pit. In the foreground a man with a handheld microphone sits in white, and a red and gold throne with a golden base stands at the left, with trays of flowers, fruit and offerings in front. Approximately 30 people are visible.2017-04-28A fire ritual in progress: a large tiered brick altar with red, pink and green painted patterns and scattered rose petals holds a blazing fire with smoke rising. Two priests sit close to the fire; one in the centre wears a green cloth on his head and green waist cloth, and a rudraksha-style mala, pouring from a brass vessel. The second priest on the right is bare-chested with white dhoti, beaded necklace and white markings on his body. Behind them a seated crowd in white clothes with orange-red shawls and lanyards fills the hall. Brass bowls, flower garlands, fruit and an oil lamp lie on the floor to the right, indicating a homa or yagna.2016-07-04July 04 20162016-07-04A nighttime fire ritual (homa) under a corrugated roof strung with multicoloured fairy lights. A bearded priest in white dhoti with red-and-orange sash and rudraksha-style beads holds a wooden ladle and speaks into a microphone above a blazing fire pit, with smoke rising. Two younger men in white dhotis stand beside him; one holds a bowl and another in white holds a microphone. Rows of devotees in white clothes sit on striped mats and floral cloths, with brass offering plates of food and fruit in front. A large decorated kalasha/peetha and brass lamp stand at back, and orange-clad helpers tend the fire at left.2017-03-16A nighttime homa at a brick fire pit bordered with yellow marigold garlands, with a large open flame rising from the centre. A man in white dhoti and shawl sits at the left, speaking into a microphone. At right, a bare-chested bearded man wearing a red rudraksha mala and orange-and-pink cloth holds a ritual implement and an offering over the fire, with a metal bowl of grain and a small bell nearby. Behind them, roughly a dozen seated devotees in white clothing with red-and-white lanyards press their palms together while some hold offerings, and smoke drifts through the scene.2015-12-11Night-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.2014-10-11Evening homa ritual inside a canopied tent with a brick fire pit emitting white smoke. A priest with bare upper body and white dhoti, wearing a red bead necklace, fans smoke toward the fire with a wide woven fan while others in white dhotis sit around the pit. Brass bowls, a mic on a stand and offerings of flowers and red cloth sit near the pit. Behind them a large seated audience in white and orange-brown shawls sits on striped mats, with several cameras on tripods at the back. A visible purple tint covers the scene. A small logo appears at top left; no a person candidate is clearly identifiable in the seated group.2015-07-16July 04 20132013-07-04July 04 20162016-07-04October 27 20142014-10-27April 28 20172017-04-28Night outdoor fire ritual at a brick homa pit bordered with yellow and orange marigold garlands, with a bright flame rising from the centre. On the right, a bearded man with long hair tied up, bare-chested, wearing a saffron-and-orange wrap, red rudraksha malas and red-and-white beads, sits with palms pressed together in namaskar before a microphone; the figure matches the Swamiji (probable) appearance cues of long swept-back hair, saffron clothing and rudraksha malas, presented as the presiding teacher. Beside the fire, a younger man in a white dhoti and shawl holds a microphone and sits cross-legged. Behind them, a seated audience in white kurtas and dhotis wears orange-and-white lanyards, with a few holding hands together or sitting with eyes closed, and a copper-and-brass offering vessel and lamp sit near the fire. Watermarked photo credit omitted.2015-12-11