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A photo of a ritual at an outdoor pandal with a striped fabric canopy and hanging fringe. A man with long dark hair and bare upper body, wearing an orange-saffron cloth, sits cross-legged at a low dais and pours liquid from a metal vessel over a plant-leaf offering. Smoke rises at the centre. Behind him are garlanded deity murtis, one with a golden crown and orange-red garlands, and a pair of standing figures draped in multicoloured garlands. Brass lamps with orange flower garlands, banana bunches, and flower arrangements fill the foreground, consistent with an abhishekam or homa. a person candidate by appearance: long swept-back hair and saffron clothing, but identity cannot be confirmed from appearance alone, so role is given as the person performing the ritual.

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A photograph of a fire ritual under a decorated temporary pavilion. A figure with long dark hair wearing an orange-saffron robe and gold necklace sits on a low platform, reaching toward a brass bowl and holding a long orange stick over a row of offering vessels and small lamps. A second, partly visible person in dark clothing sits behind him. Behind the altar, deity murti decorated with garlands of yellow and orange flowers are displayed, and banana bunches and palm leaves hang above. Marigold garlands edge the altar platform.2006-07-17A seated man in an orange-saffron robe sits on a red-and-gold cushioned seat at an outdoor ritual pavilion, with long dark hair swept back and a garland around his shoulders. He holds a small ritual implement toward a tiered arrangement of offerings. Before him stands a silver vessel, and oil lamps burn on silver stands, with orange marigold garlands along the platform. Behind him, two ornately garlanded deity murti stand under a canopy of white and red fabric with fringe, banana stalks and tender coconut hanging at left, and a tall grass stalk near the offerings.2006-07-17July 17 20062006-07-17A photograph of a fire ritual (homa) at an open-air shrine draped in cream and red cloth. A man with long dark hair and a bare upper body, wearing an orange-saffron cloth, sits on a red-and-gold seat and reaches toward a bundle of tall green grass stalks beside a silver vessel. Before him are a silver bowl of flower petals, brass lamps with flames, banana bunches and mango leaves, and heaps of flowers. Behind him are two garlanded deity murtis in a decorated niche, with a garlanded elephant-like figure and a golden shrine canopy. Swamiji (probable): the seated man has long swept-back hair and saffron clothing, matching the event's officiant. The scene is consistent with the Sapta Yaagam ritual.2006-07-17A seated man in long-haired, bare-shouldered orange-saffron robes performs a ritual at a decorated altar under a canopy with red and cream fringed drapery. He reaches toward a silver bowl of red flower petals, with a long green palm-frond stalk standing upright beside him. Behind the altar, two gilded deity murtis are garlanded with marigold and multicoloured flower strands, and tropical leaves and fruit bunches hang from the left. Brass oil lamps with flames, flower heaps and a silver vessel sit on the offering table, and a banner with Tamil script hangs above.2006-07-17A smoky ritual scene at a yagna pandal draped with cream cloth. In the foreground a bare-shouldered man in orange-saffron cloth, with long dark hair and a garland at his neck, pours or offers from a metal vessel over a palm-leaf-decorated fire area amid smoke. To the right, a large deity murti is adorned with a garland of yellow, red and white flowers. Silver and brass vessels, flowers and fruit offerings sit on the ground, and a sugarcane stalk stands upright beside the fire site. The scene suggests a homa or yagna offering.2006-07-17July 17 20062006-07-17July 17 20062006-07-17A photograph of a fire ritual (homa or yagna) in an open pandal. In the foreground a man with long dark hair, wearing saffron-orange robes, a long beaded necklace and a bangle, extends a wooden ladle or stick over a smoking fire pit, with smoke rising. Behind him stand two other seated people partly visible. Ahead, two silver-gilt deity murtis of a standing and a seated form are draped in garlands of yellow, green and white flowers, with a dark portrait behind them. Piles of fruit and marigold and rose offerings, banana leaves and stalks, kalasha-style brass vessels, and white and pink flowers surround the scene. A printed sign on the backdrop partly reads Nithyanan.2006-07-17A photograph of an outdoor yajna pavilion with a long fire-offering altar at its front. A man with long dark hair wears an orange-saffron robe, gold necklace and gold bangles, seated and reaching toward a stalk of sugarcane and the altar. Behind the altar stand two gold-metal deity murti adorned with yellow, red and green flower garlands, and a bank of bananas hangs at the left. Brass pots, lamps, green leaves and marigold and white flower offerings are arranged on the altar; a second seated person in white clothing appears at the far left edge. The setting is a cloth-canopied homa tent with red and white fringed valances.2006-07-17A seated figure in saffron-orange robes with long dark hair, bare-shouldered and wearing a gold chain and beaded garland, performs a ritual at a decorated pavilion with a red-and-white draped canopy. Behind him stand two gilded deity murtis garlanded with yellow, orange and white flower strands, and banana bunches hang from a pole at left. In front, rows of offerings, flowers, a metal bowl and brass lamps sit on a red-and-orange flower-strewn platform, with a sugarcane stalk standing upright. The scene suggests a yajna-style ritual, though the flames are not visible. Overall the frame is a photo of a homa-related puja setting. a person appearance is uncertain given the rear-angle view and the seated, ritual posture.2006-07-17A photograph of a ritual at an open-sided tent altar. A man with long dark hair, bare-chested and wearing an orange-saffron cloth wrap, sits on a red cushioned seat and pours from a small vessel toward a decorated altar. Behind him stand two gold-coloured deity murtis draped in garlands of yellow, red and white flowers, with a gold canopy above. Before the altar are rows of small leaf-wrapped offerings, a silver bowl, silver lamp stands, a sugarcane stalk and marigold garlands on the floor. Banana bunches and coconuts hang at the left, and a cream drape with red and white fringe frames the scene.2006-07-17