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A photograph of a homa fire ritual in a courtyard. A shaved-headed man in white dhoti and shawl with gold border sits cross-legged before a fire pit built of brick with yellow flower petals on it. He wears a gold bead garland with a small pendant and gold bangles, and pours an offering from a ladle into the flames. Nearby stand a brass bowl of yellow liquid, a silver plate of offerings, and a glass vessel with a coconut and leaves. A potted palm and red pillars stand behind. The man has no visible saffron, rudraksha or crown cues, so his identity is not established.

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A homa fire ritual in progress on a sunlit outdoor terrace. A shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl with gold borders and a beaded garland kneels before a square brick fire pit with flames rising, pouring offering from a silver ladle-like vessel. Another person in white holds a large silver bowl of grains at left, and silver bowls and a plate with offerings sit nearby. Behind the fire, decorated kalasha pots with mango-leaf tops and turmeric-marked coconuts stand on a bed of rice. A microphone stands at the fire pit and orange fabric hangs overhead.2011-12-28December 28 20112011-12-28December 28 20112011-12-28A shaven-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl with gold-bordered cloth and a long gold bead necklace sits cross-legged before a brick-lined fire pit (homa) with small flames and wood, pouring liquid from a metal vessel onto the fire. Nearby are a brass bowl with yellow liquid and ladle, a plate of bananas, a silver pot with green leaves, and a book open on the floor. Yellow flowers decorate the bricks, and brass kalashas and a potted palm stand in the background.2011-12-28December 28 20112011-12-28December 28 20112011-12-28December 28 20112011-12-28December 28 20112011-12-28December 28 20112011-12-28A shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl with gold borders sits cross-legged before a fire pit built of brick-shaped blocks. He wears a long beaded necklace and bangles, a tilak on his forehead, and feeds the flames with a ladle held in his right hand. Silver bowls of offerings, a silver vessel and a tray sit beside him. Behind him three brass kalashas and potted palms stand near a red-and-white striped backdrop, and a woman in a white and yellow sari sits on a plastic chair. Yellow flowers decorate the blocks and three ornate vases with yellow flowers stand on the right.2011-12-28December 28 20112011-12-28A photograph of a homa fire ritual at night. A shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl with gold-coloured borders sits cross-legged before a brick-lined fire pit, pouring offerings into the flames with a ladle. His neck bears a long gold-toned rudraksha-style necklace and he wears a white tilak on his forehead. A microphone stands at his side, a brass plate of flower offerings sits to the right, and a second seated priest in white is partly visible at the left edge. The scene is lit mainly by the fire.2011-12-28