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A night-time homa fire ritual outdoors, with a large flame rising from a brick-built fire pit in the foreground. A woman in red-orange sari with a marigold garland and gold necklace stirs or offers into the fire with a long ladle. Beside her, a shaved-headed priest in orange-red robes with rudraksha beads sits with hands joined in prayer, and further right a man in a red-orange head wrap and orange garments chants with palms pressed together. Brass bowls, a kalasha-like vessel, a trident wrapped in marigolds, and a decorated seat with deity murtis and flower garlands stand nearby. Floodlights illuminate a crowd of seated devotees behind the ritual area.

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October 27 20142014-10-27May 20 20142014-05-20A night homa at an outdoor square: a raised wooden fire pit with bright flames sits in the foreground. Around it, about eight men in saffron-maroon robes and rudraksha malas sit cross-legged, several holding books or ritual items. On the right, a man in maroon robes and white flower garlands sits on a cushioned seat holding a metal tray. Behind them a large crowd in white and saffron clothing sits in rows, with a bronze deity murti and a carved temple structure in the background, plus kalasha-style vessels and small oil lamps on carpets in front.2014-10-27Night outdoor fire ritual at a riverside or open ground lit by floodlights. A bare-chested man with long dark hair, a red dhoti and a layered garland of white and orange flowers sits with palms pressed together in prayer beside a trident (trishul) wrapped in flower garlands. Before him a large blazing fire burns on a brick-lined platform, with copper vessels and a bowl of red offerings nearby. Behind him, seated devotees in white and orange clothes, several with hands folded, face the fire. On the right, a bare-chested priest in a dark wrap kneels at the fire, and a decorated deity murti stands on a red-draped platform adorned with leaves and garlands. The scene reads as a homa or yagna with devotees in attendance. a person: long hair, red dhoti, rudraksha-style beaded mala and a flower garland are visible cues, shown seated in prayer at the fire.2014-05-20A night-time homa at a brick fire pit blazing in the centre of the frame. A standing priest in an orange shawl and red-orange garment, with a long mala and a red tilak, holds a tray and stands before a silver ornate seat. Around the fire, seated devotees in red and maroon saris and orange robes sit on mats, some with palms joined in prayer. Bald, white-marked monastics in orange and red shawls sit on the right, and brass pots, kalasha-style vessels, pink flowers and ghee bowls surround the fire. Several white-clad devotees with joined hands sit in the background. The orange-clad figure at the centre is a priest, not an identifiable individual.2014-08-01August 01 20142014-08-01A photograph of a night homa at a brick-lined square fire pit with a large flame, with several saffron-robed sannyasis seated in a row around it. Their heads are shaved, and they wear rudraksha malas and orange shawls, reading from open papers and books. On the right, a woman in red and maroon sari with garlands and red vibhuti on her forehead sits on a wooden seat holding a tray of black seeds. Behind them a seated crowd in white and saffron, a dark temple structure and a large decorated palanquin are visible. Small brass plates, offerings and oil lamps sit on red cloth around the fire.2014-10-27March 18 20132013-03-18August 01 20142014-08-01May 20 20142014-05-20October 27 20142014-10-27Night-time homa at a brick fire pit, with a large blaze rising from the pit in the foreground. A central figure sits cross-legged in a saffron-orange robe with orange and gold beaded necklaces, hands folded, eyes closed. Around the fire, many people in saffron and orange robes and rudraksha malas kneel and make offerings, some tossing items into the flames and others holding ritual vessels and brass bowls. A woman in a red and gold sari at right raises her hand in blessing. A large decorative ornamental panel stands behind the group, and an electric fan is at left. Several people wear white tilaka marks on their foreheads.2013-03-18