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A homa fire ritual inside a temple hall with a fire pit lined with yellow-orange brick at the front. Several men in white dhotis and white shirts stand with blindfolds or white cloth tied over their eyes, hands folded in prayer. A bare-chested man in a green headcloth and gold necklace sits at the fire pit, and a man with a rudraksha-style red garland and gold necklace stands at the centre holding a brass bowl. A bearded man in a pink robe and yellow shawl, wearing a white cloth over his eyes, is being tied in with a white cloth by an attendant in white. On the right stands a decorated altar with a golden lion figure, a cobra-shaped form, fruit, flower garlands and a deity murti.

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July 17 20152015-07-17A dim ritual scene in a temple-like room with a fire pit and small oil lamps at lower right. Several men in white dhotis with red and gold borders stand and kneel; some wear rudraksha malas and gold necklaces, one has a white forehead band, and a seated man in a green turban and green cloth is pouring or offering from a brass vessel over a tray of red petals and fruit. A standing man at centre wears a white dhoti and a red and gold sash and holds a cloth. Behind them a gold-framed mirror, a golden lion figure and a decorated deity murti sit on a shelf with fruit and flowers. No figure in the image clearly matches the appearance cues for the a person candidate, so the identity is uncertain.2015-09-15 +1 copiesPhoto of a homa fire ritual at night inside a temple-like hall. A rectangular yellow fire pit holds a bright flame with offerings of petals and fruit nearby. Several men sit cross-legged on a patterned floor; the nearest wears a green turban, rudraksha-style beaded garland and white dhoti, and another is bare-chested with white body markings. Behind them a woman in white and a woman in a red shawl stand with hands folded in prayer, and a woman in a red robe with a gold necklace stands near the fire. Women in white with white headbands stand in the background. On the right are ornate decorated shrine pieces with white and gold Shiva lingams topped with cobra hoods, brass lamps, and a silver-framed arch.2015-09-15A homa ritual at night inside a temporary shrine with a corrugated metal wall. In the foreground a fire burns in a brick fire pit, and a bowl of water and a ladle sit beside it. A man in a white dhoti and white shirt with a red shawl bends forward over the fire, hands extended toward the offerings. Behind him, a priest in white dhoti and red-bordered cloth stands and another man wears a green head wrap and a gold-bead garland while seated. Two men stand in white dhotis with red and gold sashes and layered beaded garlands, one with palms joined. Shelves hold rows of small white cups and a golden arch frames a decorated altar with a gold kalasha, a pink and white arranged arrangement of flowers and fruit, a golden lion figure, a painted serpent and an ornate statue. Four physical people are visible.2015-09-15A photograph of a homa (fire ritual) in a temple hall. A yellow-bordered fire pit holds a burning flame with offerings of flowers and fruit set around it. Several priests sit cross-legged on the left, bare-chested with gold necklaces, green headcloths and white dhotis, one stirring the fire with a ladle. Behind them, women in white and rust-red saris with white head bands stand with palms pressed together in prayer. On the right, a decorated altar holds a deity murti in front of a green and gold canopy, with kalasha-like brass lamps and a shelf of white cups along the wall. Trays of fruit and flowers sit nearby.2015-09-15 +1 copiesA photograph of a Vedic fire ritual at an outdoor homa pit lined with yellow-orange bricks and flower petals. A bare-chested priest in a white dhoti with a green and gold border, a gold-patterned turban and a rudraksha mala kneels at the fire and feeds offerings from a metal spoon into the flames. A brass bowl sits beside him. Behind them, seated devotees in white clothes with red shawls and saffron-orange forehead markings watch the ritual.2016-07-02Night outdoor fire ritual, a homa with a bright open flame rising from a pile of wood and offerings at the lower left. A standing priest with a shaved head and a bare chest wears a white dhoti with a red-and-gold sash and bows with palms pressed together in namaskar. Beside him another man in orange-toned dhoti stands with bare chest and bead necklace. A seated devotee at right wears a pink turban, layered white rudraksha and flower garlands, and holds a rudraksha mala while looking down at the fire. Yellow and orange marigold flowers, potted plants, a brass bowl and a golden deity murti or ornate altar stand at the sides, with a row of people watching from the background and a tall building and lights at night.2016-09-09A photograph of a homa fire pit inside a temple hall. A wooden fire pit with a bright flame sits in the foreground, its rim scattered with white and yellow flower petals. Behind it, a seated man in an orange-saffron upper cloth and a yellow-bordered white dhoti sits with a thin gold-coloured sacred thread visible, wearing a plain gold chain and a tilak on his forehead. To the right, a shirtless priest in a white dhoti with a purple-and-green striped cloth wrapped across his shoulder sits facing the fire, a steel bowl and offerings nearby. Another man in a purple-and-orange headcloth and rudraksha-style beads sits to the right. Behind them, a golden arch frames a floral arrangement and a kalasha-like vessel, with ornate golden deity figures in the background. Priests in white are seated along the back. The scene reflects a homa or yagna ritual.2016-12-12Night-time outdoor homa at a temple-style setting. In the foreground a bare-chested priest in white dhoti with a yellow-bordered cloth sits beside a flaming fire pit ringed with marigold and red flower garlands, pouring an offering from a small steel bowl. Behind him another priest in white dhoti and gold-bordered cloth stands tending the ceremony, and a third figure kneels at a second fire pit further back. A red-draped table holds flowers and petals, and fruit and brass vessels sit on the ground. Scaffolding and red curtains frame the scene.2018-03-02July 08 20172017-07-08Night homa ceremony under a open-sided pavilion lit by bright lamps. A tiered yellow fire pit with a flame and white and pink flower garlands around its edges is the focus in front. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti with rudraksha mala pours an offering, while a bare-chested assistant in white dhoti stands at left holding a small vessel. Seated on a gold-backed red throne-style seat, a figure in deep red-brown robes with long hair, rudraksha malas and a gold necklace has his hands folded in prayer. A seated attendant in yellow turban and yellow-and-white dhoti holds a ritual item beside floral offerings and bananas. Several other attendants in orange and saffron cloths stand or sit behind, and a ceremonial fan rests nearby.2017-08-02Night-time temple ritual on a red-carpeted floor before red curtains. A priest in white dhoti with bare chest and a pink-and-purple headband bends over a silver-toned murti pedestal, adorning it with pink and yellow flower garlands. A standing man in the center wears a saffron-and-orange shawl, a flower garland and a tilak, holding a small urn. Another priest on the right wears a white dhoti and a gold-beaded mala, holding a ritual item. A brass vessel of yellow and red flower petals sits in the foreground, with a copper pot and a stone-lined pit on the left.2018-01-31