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Photograph of a homa fire ceremony at night, with a square yellow-bordered fire pit blazing and smoke rising. Several priests in saffron-orange dhotis and shawls sit around the pit; one at the front wears a saffron wrap and dark-rimmed glasses and feeds sticks into the flame, another on the right wears an orange turban with a tall plume, rudraksha-style beaded garlands and gold ornaments and holds a sacred implement. Behind them, rows of seated devotees in white kurtas with red shawls and women in cream saris watch from a carpeted floor. A brass lamp and offering trays sit at the edge, and a small figure of a deity stands at the right corner.

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February 07 20162016-02-07November 04 20132013-11-04A night homa in progress at an outdoor ritual area. A central yellow-gold fire pit blazes with large flames. Behind it, a man in an orange turban and rudraksha mala sits cross-legged with hands joined above the fire. Around him, several shaved-headed priests in saffron-orange dhotis sit on striped mats, tending the fire and handling offering trays of sticks and flower petals. Standing behind them, men in white dhotis with gold borders and bare upper bodies hold their hands together in prayer. Gold ornamental arches, brass lamps and a pink flower-filled bowl are visible at the edges.2017-09-17 +1 copiesA night fire ritual. A seated priest in an orange-red turban and orange cloth pours offerings into the fire while a second orange-clad sadhu sits beside him. Around the pit, many white-dressed men with yellow-bordered dhotis, some bare-chested and wearing rudraksha malas, stand or sit on striped cloth. Brass trays of flowers, lamps, betel and pink petals sit in the foreground, with a camera tripod and a sound speaker in the background.2017-09-17February 07 20162016-02-07September 14 20152015-09-14September 17 20172017-09-17 +1 copiesOutdoor fire ritual (homa) at night. A tiered yellow brick altar with a blazing fire at its top is decorated with red flower petals and a white powder dusting. Four men in front sit on a green mat: the man at left in an orange shawl and beaded necklaces speaks into a microphone, a man in the center wears a teal cloth and a mala, a man next to him wears an orange shawl and a mala, and a bare-chested man at right wears a red-and-pink shawl and white dhoti. Brass oil lamps, a kalasha-style vessel, bananas, fruit and flower offerings sit on the mat. Behind them rows of seated devotees in white and red garments fill the space, with a painted deity murti at upper left.2016-07-03October 10 20172017-10-10September 17 20172017-09-17September 14 20152015-09-14A night homa in progress at a yellow-and-white square fire pit filled with logs and burning embers, with smoke rising. A young priest in white dhoti and a white head wrap, bare-chested with rudraksha malas and sandalwood markings, pours or tends offerings at the fire with a stick. Behind him, a shaved-headed man in saffron-orange robes and a rudraksha mala sits attentively, and several women in orange saris with rudraksha malas and white forehead markings sit at left. Devotees in white shirts and dark clothes sit in the background among dim lights.2013-11-07