Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
A homa or fire ritual in a large tent-like hall. A square yellow-bordered fire pit with flames and offerings sits in the foreground. Several bare-chested priests seated before it wear white dhotis with yellow borders and gold garland necklaces; one holds a small brass vessel. Behind them, a large seated congregation in white and red shawls, some with red garlands, sits on colourful striped mats. Oil lamps and a kalasha-style pot with flowers sit near the fire pit. Overhead a watermarked-free image shows many devotees and a decorated altar in the background.

More like this

Open the gallery
A night homa or yagna ceremony in an open-air camp. Around a square yellow-brick fire pit, several bare-chested priests in white dhotis with gold-coloured garlands sit and perform rites, one pouring offerings. Behind them, a large crowd of seated devotees in white and red shawls, some wearing saffron-red stoles and garlands, sits on colourful striped mats. Brass lamps, a decorated kalasha pot and flower offerings lie near the pit, with lights glowing in the background.2015-09-17September 17 20152015-09-17Outdoor ritual homa in a garden with a large crowd seated on mats. In the foreground, a priest in white dhoti and pink headband pours offerings into a wooden fire pit with flames, with baskets of rice and bowls of yellow flowers beside it. Another priest in white and an orange shawl sits nearby, holding a microphone. Behind them, rows of devotees in white and orange clothing sit on mats, many wearing rudraksha malas. A gold-cushioned seat with a trident stands at left, and a tall ceremonial pillar with rings stands in the background among palm trees. a person is not clearly identifiable from appearance, so no candidate is named.2016-09-09July 02 20162016-07-02July 16 20152015-07-16A photograph of an outdoor homa under a corrugated roof with hanging decorative lanterns. In the foreground, a yellow-ochre fire pit with a burning flame is decorated with yellow flower petals and white rangoli lines. Several priests in saffron-orange shawls and white dhotis sit behind the fire pit, one holding a small bowl, another wearing a pink turban and a gold-and-bead garland. A man in white dhoti and a saffron wrap holds a microphone at right. Behind them, a large group of seated participants, some bare-chested and wearing orange or red garlands, sit on colourful striped mats. Trees and a red-walled building lie beyond the shelter.2016-09-09Outdoor homa at an open-air pavilion under a corrugated roof, with palm trees and a red wall behind. A golden square fire pit burns with flames, surrounded by yellow flower petals. Priests in white dhotis sit cross-legged; one bare-chested priest with a pink headband pours offerings, and another in orange cloth and a white shawl sits beside him. Behind them a large audience in white and saffron-coloured clothes sits on mats. Brass vessels, baskets of rice and fruit, and a kalasha-like arrangement sit on the floor.2016-09-09Night-time homa ceremony in a open pavilion with red carpeting and a wooden fire pit at centre, flames and smoke rising. A man in a red dhoti and garland of white flowers sits on a gold-and-red throne behind the fire pit, his hand raised, with a kneeling attendant beside him. Priests in white dhotis, some with bare chests and orange cloths, sit or stand around the pit with ladles and offerings. Devotees in saris and white garments stand behind, and plates of fruit, flowers and kalasha pots surround the fire. Banana plants and a gold canopy frame the scene. a person: the seated figure on the throne wears a red dhoti, a white flower garland and long dark hair, with ceremonial gold adornments visible.2016-12-05An outdoor homa in a sunken square yellow-ochre fire pit lined with brick, with a small fire burning inside. Several priests in white dhotis and shawls sit around it; the foreground priest on the right wears a rudraksha mala and red tilak and places red flowers or fruit onto a tray of brass vessels and bananas. Behind them, a large group of devotees in saffron and orange robes sits on mats and cloth in a courtyard, with a stone Nandi statue on a red pedestal in the background. Brass lamps and a kalasha-style vessel sit at the edges, with banana leaves and fruit as offerings. This is a fire ritual being performed, and a person candidate is not clearly identifiable from appearance.2014-10-02July 06 20152015-07-06October 27 20142014-10-27August 09 20152015-08-09