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Night-time homa at an outdoor ritual site: a flaming fire pit of brick and stone sits in the foreground, with a tiered decorated altar behind it draped in marigold garlands, fruit and a lion-headed pedestal. Several priests sit on green mats in white dhotis; one wears a green sash and bare chest, another an orange shawl, and others sit cross-legged holding ritual vessels and a microphone stand. Illuminated deity figures and gold-painted shrine arches frame the background. No a person candidate is clearly identifiable from appearance, so the figures are described by role only.

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July 04 20162016-07-04July 04 20162016-07-04A night-time homa ritual at an outdoor temple-style pavilion. A brick fire pit with a bright flame sits at the centre, surrounded by offerings of flowers, grains and brass vessels. Priests in white dhotis sit on the ground; one bare-chested priest wears a green cloth and a white sacred thread, pouring offerings into the fire. Behind the fire stands a tiered decorated ratha-like altar with garlands, carved lions and a lotus base. Illuminated deity murti line the walls. Several musicians in white and saffron sit with microphones at right. Seated devotees in white and red shawls watch at left and front.2016-07-04 +1 copiesA photograph of a night homa in a decorated tent hall. A large fire burns in a brick fire pit, its stepped brick base decorated with flowers, with a tiered ornate shrine behind it. Several men in white dhotis sit cross-legged around the fire, one bare-chested with a sacred thread, and one in an orange wrap and white dhoti stands at the right. Brass pots, bowls, flowers and a basket of grains sit on the ground in front, with microphones on stands near the men. Illuminated golden shrines with deity murti line the back of the hall, with colourful hanging tassels above. Several people in white and a few in red and orange sit in the background, with a few other figures standing nearby.2016-07-04A ceremonial homa at night in an open outdoor pavilion. A visible fire burns in a tiered brick fire pit, surrounded by yellow-orange offerings and a small mound of grain. Behind it stands an ornate, colourful decorated altar with a kalasha-like pot topped with flowers and garlands. Several men in white dhotis and shawls, some shirtless with green or red cloths and rudraksha, sit on the grass chanting and performing the fire ritual. Golden-lit deity murtis flank the back wall, and onlookers sit in the foreground, some in white and orange saris. Brass vessels and microphones are visible.2016-07-04July 04 20162016-07-04 +1 copiesJuly 04 20162016-07-04A 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.2016-07-02July 04 20162016-07-04July 04 20162016-07-04A photograph of a Vedic homa fire ritual inside a temple hall. A tall flame rises from a tiered wooden fire altar stacked with wooden logs and flower-decorated offerings, set on a green cloth. Several priests sit or stand around it: one bare-chested man in a white dhoti with a marigold garland, another in a white dhoti with a red-and-white cloth over his shoulder holding an offering bowl, and a third in a headband and garland seated at the fire with a brass vessel. Seated devotees in white watch from the back, and a row of musicians with microphones sits at the right. Behind are gilded shrines with deity murtis under pink and violet lighting, and brass oil lamps and kalashas stand on the floor.2016-07-02Outdoor ritual homa at a temple-style pavilion. A square brick fire pit with a central fire is decorated with marigold petals and garlands. Around it, six men in white dhotis sit on the grass and mats, several bare-chested with rudraksha malas, chanting into microphones. One sits with folded hands before a plate of flowers and offerings. A standing man in an orange shawl stands behind the group. Behind them, a tall decorated shrine with garlands and gold-lit deity murtis in niches under a green-and-gold canopy. Plates of flowers, brass vessels, rice and dry straw bundles lie in front. No figure is clearly identifiable as a person.2016-07-04