Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
A night ritual fire ceremony under a open-sided structure with exposed steel beams and white columns. In the foreground a bare-chested priest in a white dhoti with a gold-bordered cloth holds up a golden kalasha pot while a fire blazes on a low pit. Beside him a priest in a white dhoti with yellow borders holds a ritual item, and on the right a bare-chested man in a yellow-and-blue waistcloth presses his palms together in prayer, wearing a red-beaded necklace. Garlands of red and white flowers lie near the fire, and other ritual participants stand behind in the background. This appears to be a homa or yagna ceremony.

More like this

Open the gallery
March 02 20182018-03-02A night-time homa at an open-air temple structure under a steel scaffold roof with white pillars. A priest in a bare upper body, wearing a gold-bordered white dhoti and a tilak on his forehead, holds up a brass vessel and a ladle-like implement over a fire pit with burning flames. Beside him another priest in white dhoti with yellow borders holds a small brass item and chants, while a third bare-chested man in a yellow and blue waist cloth stands with palms joined in prayer. Red and white flower garlands lie on the ground near the fire. Other attendants stand in the background, and the scene reads as a fire ritual.2018-03-02A photograph of a ritual at night under an open, pillared pavilion with a red-brown beam roof. A bare-chested priest in a white dhoti with a golden-yellow patterned shawl and a tilak on his forehead holds a silver kalasha/vessel with yellow flowers and a stream of water, pouring it during an abhishekam. Beside him a second priest in a white dhoti with gold-striped border holds incense sticks and a lamp, and a third priest on the right has his hands folded in namaskar. Marigold garlands and red flowers lie near the base, with incense smoke rising and blue-white string lights in the background. Another person, partly visible on the far left, stands with folded hands.2018-03-02Night photo of a homa fire ritual at an open temple courtyard. In the centre, a bare-chested priest in white dhoti with a gold-and-saffron cloth draped over the shoulder holds a silver vessel with a coconut and fruit toward a stone fire pit with bright flames and flower garlands. Beside him, another priest in a white dhoti with yellow borders holds ritual items and performs the offering. At right, a priest with folded palms wears red beads and a yellow-and-blue dhoti. Brass pots, marigold garlands and red offerings lie around the fire, and a shrine with deity murti and wooden pillars with bamboo scaffolding stands behind. Several more priests in white are visible at left.2018-03-02Night-time homa ritual in an open-air temple courtyard with a shallow fire pit in the foreground, ringed with marigold garlands and red flower petals. Several shirtless priests in white dhotis with yellow borders stand around the flames; one holds a small brass vessel and another raises a tapered ritual implement, while a third has hands folded in namaskar. To the far right an older man in a blue-bordered white dhoti tends a table draped in red and covered with flowers and fruit. Behind the fire, a shrine on the left holds a colourful deity murti framed by a decorated arch, and white scaffolding and pillars line the hall. Offering plates, a brass lamp, and a yellow cloth bundle sit on the ground.2018-03-02Night-time homa at an open-air temple pavilion. In the foreground a large fire burns in a tiered yagna kunda decorated with marigold garlands and red kumkum. Behind it a priest in white dhoti with a saffron-and-gold shawl holds a vessel over the flames and offers oblations, while a second priest in cream dhoti with a gold border holds a bundle of kusha grass beside him. At right a man in a saffron dhoti with a red rudraksha mala and bare chest, hands folded in anjali, stands by a table of flowers and offerings. Behind them more white-clad priests tend additional fire pits under bamboo-supported roofing, with a deity shrine lit at the back. Coconuts, flowers and brass pots sit on the ground.2018-03-02March 02 20182018-03-02A night-time ritual photograph at a temple with a dark background and pillars. In the centre, a bare-chested priest with a red tilak on his forehead, a rudraksha mala and a gold pendant stands holding a small offering vessel with both hands. Beside him, another bare-chested priest in a gold-and-white dhoti holds a palm leaf and gazes downward. Behind them, three more men in white dhotis and one with a striped yellow-and-blue cloth stand with arms folded, one wearing a saffron-orange cloth. At right, a silver platform is decorated with red and white garlands, yellow marigolds, green leaves and a gold cloth draped over a tall stand.2018-03-02March 02 20182018-03-02Night-time outdoor ritual scene with a group of men in ceremonial dress. At left, an older man in a white dhoti with a green and gold border and a red shawl holds a microphone and speaks. Beside him, several bare-chested men wear white and yellow dhotis, beaded necklaces and sacred thread, one holding a microphone to his mouth. A man in a white dhoti with an orange sash and a green-edged cloth holds a printed sheet. At right, a younger man with a tilak and rudraksha mala stands with arms folded, wearing a red-brown cloth. A large stone vessel and floral offerings sit in the foreground beside a speaker on a stand, under lights with pillars behind.2018-03-02December 28 20112011-12-28Night-time homa at an open-air temple pavilion with bamboo scaffolding and a partly built pillared hall behind. A large fire blazes in a tiered yagna kund ringed with yellow marigold and red flower garlands. On the right, a bare-chested priest in white dhoti and shawl pours an offering from a vessel into the flames. Behind him, several priests in white and saffron stand with hands joined. On the left, a seated figure in a gold and red throne under a colourful canopy wears a flower garland and sits with hands folded, marked as the presiding figure. Brass vessels and a plate sit on the floor in front.2018-03-02