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Photo of a homa ritual in a whitewashed hall with a striped mat floor. At the centre, a man with long dark hair, a red-and-orange shawl and a white flower garland stands behind a tiered stack of white bricks decorated with yellow flowers, the fire-altar arrangement used for a homa. A microphone stand is beside him. Around him sit about a dozen young men and women in white kurtas or tunics with saffron-orange shawls, many seated cross-legged on the floor. Offerings of fruit, flowers and sweets are laid out on a cloth at left, a brass oil lamp stands at right, and a pale orange curtain hangs in the doorway behind. Decorative strings of coloured paper bunting cross the upper wall.

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December 25 20072007-12-25A photograph inside a white-walled hall during a homa fire ritual. A central figure with long hair and an orange shawl over a garland of white flowers sits behind a tiered white brick fire pit decorated with yellow flowers, with a microphone stand before him. Around him, several people in white clothes and orange shawls sit on mats, some holding papers or offering trays of fruit and flowers. A trident and ceremonial staff rest against the wall, and an orange curtain hangs in a window. Strings of colourful bunting hang across the top of the room. A standing fan stands at the right.2007-12-25A homa being performed at a brick fire pit in an open hall with white walls, orange and red drapes, and a ceiling fan. Seated on mats, a central figure in an orange shawl and white garment wears a white garland and sits behind a flame rising from the brick altar. Around the pit, assistants in white dhotis and orange shawls tend the fire; one holds a peacock-feather fan and another a long ceremonial staff. Offerings of fruit, flowers, a plate of sweets and yellow flowers on the bricks surround the fire. Seated youths in orange shawls watch from the sides, and a standing attendant in white and a metal bell hang nearby.2007-12-25December 25 20072007-12-25December 25 20072007-12-25A homa is performed in a whitewashed hall with a square fire pit built of white bricks and strewn with yellow flowers, bearing offerings of fruit, grains and bowls. At centre a young man in orange robes and a white flower garland kneels behind the pit, holding a ladle, while a microphone stands before him. Around him sit brahmacharis and devotees in orange shawls over white clothes, and a woman in a white sari with an orange shawl kneels with folded hands at right. A brass oil lamp stands on the right edge. Behind, a seated crowd, including a man holding a baby, watches; a cameraman films from the right. Orange curtains and a ceremonial staff hang in the background.2007-12-25December 25 20072007-12-25A photograph of a homa ritual in a hall with white walls and festoon streamers. A man in orange robe and a white flower garland, with long dark hair, sits cross-legged behind a stepped pyramid of white bricks decorated with yellow flowers, gesturing over the fire pit. A microphone stand is in front of him. Seated devotees in white and orange clothes, some with orange shawls, face the ritual; a small child in orange sits among them. A peacock-feather fan and a golden trident stand at the right, and a white-clothed attendant is at the right edge. a person: the seated central figure has long swept-back hair, orange clothing and a ceremonial garland, and presides as the officiant of the homa.2007-12-25A photograph of a fire-altar ritual inside a whitewashed hall. In the centre, a man with long dark hair, a red tilak and a white flower garland over an orange cloth stands behind a microphone, one arm raised, speaking or chanting. Around him, several men in white kurtas and orange shawls sit on mats, one holding a fan-like object and another a ceremonial staff. A brick-built square fire pit is decorated with yellow marigold petals, with incense sticks and a silver vessel at its edge. An orange curtain hangs in the window, a trident stands on the right, and a string of paper bunting runs along the top of the wall. Several people sit at the right edge, including a woman with glasses in white.2007-12-24December 25 20072007-12-25Photograph of a homa ritual in a whitewashed hall. A central figure in orange robes and a white-and-orange floral garland holds a flaming torch over a square fire pit built of white bricks decorated with yellow flowers. Around the pit are offerings: bowls of fruit, flowers, a plate of sweets and a brass vessel. Men in white kurtas with orange shawls sit on mats and assist, one holding a ritual implement, and a standing man in white stands behind a tall brass ritual stand. Orange curtains hang in the background, a small colourful paper garland is strung across the wall, and a pedestal fan stands at right. Several devotees in orange sit in the background. a person appears to be the central figure in orange with long hair and a garland, performing the fire offering.2007-12-25December 25 20072007-12-25