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A large fire blazes on a wooden platform in the foreground, with tall orange flames and rising smoke rising from a heap of dark cowdung cakes. In the background at right, a bare-chested man in a maroon cloth wraps a shawl over his shoulders and sits with hands near a brass vessel, appearing to be a priest or ritual participant. Several people sit blurred in the dim left background, some in red and white clothing. Brass plates and bowls lie on the floor and a silver vessel sits at right. A woven red and blue cloth lies at lower left.

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August 08 20172017-08-08August 08 20172017-08-08 +1 copiesNovember 18 20152015-11-18A photograph of a homa fire ceremony in a temple hall at night. A fire burns in a large square golden fire pit with patterned tiles, sending up smoke. A man in an orange-red turban, orange-red shawl, rudraksha mala and ceremonial gold necklace kneels on the right holding an open book and reading. Oil lamps stand beside the pit and marigold petals are scattered on a mat. Behind, several people in white clothes sit on mats, some near a drum. The figure matches the presentation of a person through the turban, orange robes and rudraksha beads, but this is an appearance-based label only, and he is described here as a priest leading the fire ritual.2015-11-18A photograph of a large open fire burning on a low stone platform, with thick white smoke rising from cow dung cakes being purified in a Siddha ritual. On the left, a bare-chested young man in an orange dhoti and orange cloth over one shoulder wears layered beaded necklaces and stands near the flames. On the right, a seated man wears a maroon garment, a white turban-like headwrap, a gold chain and armbands, and tends the smoke with his hands. Behind him a woman in a teal sari stands beside a silver-rimmed lamp stand. A brass vessel and a silver bowl sit at the edges of the frame.2017-08-31A homa fire ceremony at night in an open hall. A fire burns in a large rectangular wooden fire pit decorated with painted markings, with smoke rising across the frame. Behind it a man in a reddish-orange turban and a dark orange shawl, wearing orange-beaded rudraksha malas and a large ceremonial gold pendant, sits and reads from an open book. Brass oil lamps with flames sit at the pit's edge, and marigold petals and offerings lie on a cloth.2015-11-18August 25 20172017-08-25Photograph of a homa fire ritual at night. A large orange flame rises from a brick-built fire pit with a white and red patterned cloth on its top edge, surrounded by smoke. A brass dish and a metal bowl of offerings sit beside the pit, and yellow marigold garlands hang at the right edge. Behind the fire, a shirtless figure sits in shadow, partly silhouetted, and a dim temple-like structure fills the background.2017-09-27August 25 20172017-08-25October 07 20132013-10-07A seated priest in a red-orange dhoti-style wrap and red-orange turban performs a homa at a brick fire pit with a large open flame at night. He wears layered gold beaded and bead-ornament necklaces, multiple bangles on his arms, and long reddish sacred cords or malas over his shoulders. He offers items into the fire with his hands. Brass vessels, a plate and small cups with offerings sit on the floor beside him, and a covered brass container is at the right edge. The setting is dark with warm firelight.2013-12-20 +1 copiesA photograph of a homa fire pit at night. Tall orange flames rise from a brick-edged square pit, consuming a heap of offerings and wood with red, orange and marigold-like petals scattered among the embers. Behind the pit, a white cloth with a green and brown border covers a table with small brass or clay vessels. No people are clearly visible; the frame shows only the fire and the altar area.2012-09-24 +1 copies