Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
A tented hall decorated with hanging colourful tassels, paper lanterns and oil lamps shows a fire ritual in progress. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti with a striped border, wearing an orange cloth and a flower garland, leans over a wooden homa fire pit on a red carpet, lighting it with a flame while offerings of fruit, flowers and brass vessels surround the pit. Two men in white dhoti stand at left, one speaking into a microphone, others with hands folded. Behind them a large seated crowd, many men bare-chested in white, sits in rows. On the right a seated figure in saffron-orange robes wears a crown-like headdress, rudraksha-style beads and a white flower garland, seated on a gold-and-red throne. The scene reads as a homa with puja offerings.

More like this

Open the gallery
A large tented hall with coloured paper streamers and lanterns hanging from the ceiling, filled with seated devotees in white. In the centre, a wooden homa fire pit stands on a red carpet scattered with flower petals. Two priests in white dhotis, one bare-chested and wearing a saffron shawl, stand beside the pit; a woman in a white cloth with a saffron wrap stands behind them and another woman in a yellow cloth sits in front. On the right, a seated figure in red and gold robes, wearing a garland and a black crown-like headpiece, sits on a gilded throne under a multicoloured parasol, flanked by attendants. Brass pots of fruit, flowers and lamps are arranged in the foreground, and a camera crew films the ritual. Identity of the figure on the throne is uncertain from appearance alone.2016-12-05December 05 20162016-12-05A large tented hall during an evening fire ritual. In the centre a wooden square fire pit with a bright flame sits on a red floor, surrounded by flower petals, brass vessels and garlands. A shirtless priest in white dhoti and an orange cloth kneels at the fire pit, tending the flames. Seated on an ornate golden throne with a red cloth is a man wearing an orange turban, a red shawl and a long beaded garland; a large multicoloured parasol stands behind him. Around him devotees sit on the floor in white and yellow clothes, and a woman in a maroon sari with a garland stands with folded hands at right. Colourful hanging lanterns decorate the ceiling and lights hang overhead.2016-12-05A large covered hall during an evening fire ritual. At the centre, a tiered wooden homa fire pit burns with bright flames, surrounded by red cloth, scattered marigold petals and plates of flowers and fruit. Seated priests in white dhotis and bare-chested attire perform the rites, one man in a yellow shawl and another with a pink-and-magenta turban tending the fire. To the left, a decorated deity murti sits on a golden throne with flower garlands and offerings of fruit and coconuts. A large seated crowd of bare-chested devotees fills the hall, and colourful paper hanging decorations and lamps are suspended from the ceiling. Another man in white stands at the back.2016-12-02December 02 20162016-12-02A photograph of a large ceremonial hall with a striped tented ceiling hung with colourful tassels and paper lanterns. In the left foreground a bearded man with a red-and-gold turban, rudraksha mala and garland sits on an ornate gold throne with a canopy, a probable Swamiji candidate by visible cues of turban, mala and ceremonial dress. Before him, a white-haired shaven-chested priest in white dhoti with yellow sash sits behind a wooden homa/yagna platform holding a ladle. Another priest in an orange-and-yellow shawl stands pouring from a vessel while seated devotees in white and yellow sit in rows. Fruits, leaves, bowls and offering trays cover the red mat in front, and a crowd fills the hall.2016-12-07A temple ritual in a covered hall with a tent-like ceiling hung with colourful paper lanterns and streamers. A bare-chested priest in a yellow dhoti pours liquid from a golden vessel, while an officiant in white dhoti and a white shawl stands before a fire pit with a red and gold altar. Flower garlands and bananas decorate the offering tables with brass lamps and kalasha pots. Seated devotees fill the background, and a standing man in white clothing with a grey beard stands at right with hands folded. Homa/yagna rite with abhishekam-style offering.2016-12-15December 07 20162016-12-07December 05 20162016-12-05A temple ritual inside a pillared hall with a red-carpeted floor. At right, a bare-chested priest in white dhoti and shawl pours or offers from a ritual vessel toward a fire pit where flames rise, surrounded by marigold-decorated altar tables, brass vessels and fruit trays. Beside him, a white-clad assistant holds a sacred item. On the left, a row of people in saffron and orange robes, rudraksha malas and marigold garlands stand with hands folded, some women in blue and purple saris. Ornate umbrellas and marigold festoons hang from the pillars and ceiling. No clearly identifiable a person is visible in this scene.2018-04-14A large tented hall during a homa fire ritual. A central rectangular wooden fire pit with a burning flame sits on a red floor decorated with marigold petals and coloured rangoli. Seated on an ornate gold throne with a red cushion beneath a multicoloured parasol is a figure wearing a red-brown robe, white flower garland and rudraksha-style beads, hands folded in namaste; the figure's appearance matches a person with the throne and ceremonial dress cues. Standing near the fire, a bare-chested man in white dhoti with an orange headband bends over a tray of offerings. Around them, many seated devotees in white and bare-chested attire sit with hands joined, and a woman in a maroon sari with beads stands at right. Coloured paper lanterns hang from the ceiling and banana fruit, brass pots and flower offerings are arranged in front.2016-12-05A night homa in a large tented hall with red mats and paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling. A sacred fire burns in a wooden fire pit at centre-right, with yellow and orange-robed priests seated around it. One priest in an orange headcloth, orange shawl and white dhoti pours offerings. Shirtless male and female devotees in white dhotis and yellow shawls sit on the red mats, and gold kalashas, marigold garlands and brass plates of offerings surround the fire. Behind them a crowd sits on the floor, and a white-robed figure with a purple shawl stands near a golden deity murti shrine. Overall the scene is a homa with devotees and priests.2016-12-05