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A homa fire burns in a gold-trimmed square fire pit at a temple ritual, with marigold garlands and pink flower petals around its rim and coconuts and fruit in the foreground. A shirtless man with a yellow-orange shawl and rudraksha mala sits behind the fire, gazing into the flames. To the right, a man in a red-and-orange turban and striped green shawl with a gold chain sits and tends offerings, while a standing priest in white dhoti and shawl leans over from behind. Several seated men in white dhotis wait in the background, and ornate golden shrines with deity murtis and red and purple drapery fill the setting.

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Outdoor fire ritual at a red-and-white striped temple-style platform beside banana leaves. A bare-chested man in a white dhoti with a red-and-orange turban and a rudraksha-style mala pours an offering or pours from a long ladle into a fire burning in a yellow wooden fire pit decorated with marigold and flower petals. Beside him a second man in an orange cloth and beads tends the fire. Brass vessels, flower baskets and a silver tray sit nearby. This is a homa or yagna fire ritual during a bhumi puja.2016-11-23A ritual homa at a large hall: a tiered wooden fire altar with a bright flame sits at the centre, surrounded by marigold and rose offerings, banana bunches, apples, brass pots and rice. Three shirtless priests in white dhotis sit around it; the centre priest wears a pink head cloth and pours an offering, the left priest wears a yellow shawl, and the right priest wears a white shawl with a rudraksha-style necklace. Behind them seated devotees in white fill the floor, and a decorated golden ornate stage with a peetha and a white cow stand in the background.2016-12-02January 06 20182018-01-06December 12 20162016-12-12A homa fire burns in a wooden fire pit at an outdoor temple courtyard with red-and-white painted walls and banana plants behind. Two priests sit cross-legged: the foreground priest, bare-chested with a red head cloth and white dhoti, feeds offerings into the flames with a stick, while a second man in an orange shawl sits beside him. Marigold and rose petals and a brass vessel surround the fire pit, and brass ritual pots sit at the lower left.2016-11-23A homa or yagna performed in a tented temple hall at night. A golden tiered fire pit with a bright flame sits at centre, surrounded by yellow marigold garlands and flower petals. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti kneels at the fire pit tending it, while another priest in white dhoti with a red and saffron cloth on his head pours offerings from a vessel. Several seated priests in white dhotis line the background, and a seated figure in red sits to the right. Silver ritual vessels, fruits and a plate of offerings lie on a striped cloth. Behind them are gilded shrine structures, deity images and hanging festive lamps with colourful tassels.2017-09-26 +1 copiesSeptember 26 20172017-09-26 +1 copiesSeptember 05 20172017-09-05 +2 copiesA night ritual homa at a temple pavilion. A large golden fire pit with a bright flame sits at center, surrounded by yellow marigold garlands and brass vessels with offerings. Several bare-chested priests in white dhotis sit cross-legged around it; one central priest wears a red turban. Seated to the right are devotees in yellow, red and white clothing. Behind them, a golden throne and a deity murti are visible under bunting and hanging lamps, with a camera on a tripod in the frame. Floral arrangements and fruit sit on a striped cloth in the foreground.2017-09-26A photograph of a sacred fire ritual inside a richly decorated Hindu temple hall with pink and silver shrine alcoves holding deity murtis. A large blazing homa fire rises from a stacked brick fire pit topped with a tiered ornate golden altar, decorated with red flowers. On the left, a bare-chested priest in white dhoti with a saffron-coloured shawl and rudraksha mala sits with hands folded, beside a standing man in white dhoti with a saffron sash and a yellow-brown headwrap seated near him. On the right, a young man in white dhoti and purple-striped sash bends forward tending the fire. Seated devotees in white and orange clothes watch in the background, and green mats cover the floor.2016-07-02November 23 20162016-11-23A homa is performed at a brick fire pit in a temple-like hall. Three priests sit on a striped mat around the burning fire: the man on the left wears a red-and-pink turban, a red-orange rudraksha-style mala, and a white dhoti, and he is feeding items from a woven basket; the man in the centre sits in white with a white shawl and a bead necklace; the man on the right wears a white dhoti, an orange-gold cloth and a bead garland, holding a small item over the flames. A fourth person in white dhoti and white kurta stands in a doorway behind them. Flowers, a brass vessel of ghee, and yellow marigold garlands surround the fire.2016-08-05