Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
A group of devotees sits cross-legged on a floor covered with mats and green leaves, facing a white-clad deity murti of a goddess with blue skin and a crown, adorned with garlands, set on a white pedestal against a painted backdrop. Nine people are visible, mostly from behind, wearing orange and saffron shawls over white or yellow garments. A small flame burns in a fire pit in front of them, with brass pots and plates of offerings, marigolds and betel leaves arranged around the floor. Only the seated devotees are physically present; the statue is not counted.

More like this

Open the gallery
A photograph of a homa ritual in an indoor hall with a blue wall and a painted backdrop of pink and grey mountains. In the centre, a brick fire pit holds a lit flame. Around it, about seven people sit on mats in orange, white and yellow clothing. A woman in a yellow sari sits at the right foreground. Behind them, a white-draped platform holds a dark-blue deity murti with a long garland, raised arms and a sword, and brass kalashas with flowers sit on the floor. A wooden bench with red cushions is at the right edge.2008-10-27A photograph of a ritual worship inside a hall with a painted backdrop of a mountain at sunset. A standing man in orange robes holds a lit oil lamp (aarti) toward a blue-skinned goddess murti decorated with white and red flowers and a garland, set on a white-draped platform. Seated in front, several people in orange and white robes and yellow shawls sit on a mat before brass plates of food, fruit, flowers and a small fire, with stacked wrapped offerings in the foreground. A colourful painted textile hangs on the left wall. The standing figure is a priest performing aarti rather than a distinctively identifiable a person, so no appearance-based candidate is claimed.2008-10-27October 27 20082008-10-27October 27 20082008-10-27October 27 20082008-10-27A photograph of a homa ritual in a temple hall. A standing priest in orange robes holds a lit oil lamp (aarti) near a brick fire pit where flames burn. Seated devotees in white, orange and yellow clothing face the fire, with a woman in yellow pressing her palms together. A large statue of a blue-skinned goddess with a crown, garlands and a trident is on a white-draped stand at right, with a painted backdrop of mountains. A tall decorated banner stands at left, and brass pots and leaf offerings are placed on the floor.2008-10-27October 27 20082008-10-27Indoor fire ritual before a white-and-blue statue of a goddess with a crown and garland, her hands raised, set against a dark backdrop. Several seated men in orange and white robes sit cross-legged at a low brick fire pit where a small flame burns, with a flat-topped table in the foreground holding brass plates of rice, grains, flowers, bananas leaves, coconut halves and small oil lamps. Along the right side more people in orange and yellow robes sit on a red-draped platform near an ornate wooden throne with red cushions. A tall decorated banner hangs at the right edge. Chandi homa in progress, with offerings laid out for the fire.2008-10-27A homa ritual is performed in a hall before a white-and-silver murti of the goddess Kali with blue skin, garlands and raised arms. Seated devotees in orange and white robes sit around a square brick fire pit where a flame burns. Brass lamps, a kalasha, plates of grains, fruit and flowers, and bowls of red and green offerings lie on the floor. A man in orange sits at the fire pit's edge, and a red throne sits at the right, but no person is clearly identifiable as a person. Six to seven people are visible.2008-10-27Indoor homa ritual in a hall with a blue wall and a colourful painted pillar. A standing priest in orange robes holds a ladle and a flame above a brick fire pit, where fire rises. Seated devotees in orange, white and yellow shawls face a large blue-skinned Kali murti with a crown, garland and raised sword, set before a painted mountain backdrop. Kalasha pots with mango leaves and a plate of offerings sit in front of the fire.2008-10-27October 27 20082008-10-27A photograph of a Chandi Homa puja on a raised red-skirted stage. A blue-skinned, four-armed goddess murti of Kali with a white crown and garland stands on a white-draped table at left, flanked by a painted mountain backdrop. Several men in saffron-orange robes sit cross-legged on the stage in front of brass plates of fruit, flowers and sweets, and small oil lamps; one wears a white shawl over orange. A painted pillar with geometric patterns stands at right, and an ornately carved wooden throne-like chair with a red cushion sits empty beside them. Six or more seated participants are visible.2008-10-27