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A night-time homa at an outdoor ritual area. A square fire pit with yellow-and-white tiered borders holds burning wood and ash. Seated on the left are several young shaven-headed sannyasi-style men in orange robes with white forehead markings and rudraksha malas. A man in a white dhoti and white top with a black mala sits behind the fire pit, with flames rising in front of him. A standing man in orange cloth stands at the back. Brass oil lamps (deepams), a plate of bananas, yellow marigold garlands, and brass ritual vessels surround the fire. Yellow flower garlands are placed at the right edge.

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November 09 20132013-11-09A photograph of a homa fire ritual on a raised, yellow-and-white tiered fire pit with burning embers and ash inside. Around it sit about eight shaven-headed young men in saffron-orange robes with white tilak marks, rudraksha-style beaded necklaces, and some with bare upper bodies, seated on mats. Brass oil lamps (kuthuvilakku) with yellow marigold garlands stand at the right, alongside a brass vessel and a plate of bananas and pineapple. A seated figure in white garments with beaded necklaces is visible at the upper right, and a few other people in saffron appear at the top edge. A faint printed caption at the bottom right is partly legible.2013-11-09A night-time homa at a square yellow-and-white fire pit, with a small flame and ash burning in the centre. Several young shaved-headed men in saffron-orange robes, some with white forehead markings and beaded necklaces, sit on mats around the fire. One man in white clothes sits at the far side tending the fire. Brass oil lamps stand at the corners, a plate of bananas, pineapple and lemons sits on the left, and yellow marigold garlands lie to the right. The photo shows the men seated in a ritual setting with a mat-covered floor.2013-11-09September 13 20132013-09-13A square fire pit, yoni-shaped homa kunda framed in yellow-painted wood and decorated with marigold and red flower petals, has a flame burning inside it. A white-robed priest with a white turban and rudraksha beads kneels at the pit feeding offerings into the fire. Around him sit several young men in saffron-orange robes with rudraksha malas and white tilak marks, some holding offering vessels and palm-leaf items. Brass bowls with flowers and kumkum sit on the mat, and a red-and-white patterned rug lies at the front. The setting is a night homa or yagna ritual with kolam designs on the floor.2013-11-20A night homa at a Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam ashram: a yellow-bordered square fire pit with flames and smoke sits on a cloth-covered floor. Several shaved-headed young men in saffron-orange robes, with white forehead markings and rudraksha malas, sit in a row; one holds a brass bowl and another has hands joined in prayer. Brass oil lamps (deepas) stand on each side, and a flower-and-fruit offering with yellow blossoms and a red container sits in front. Several people in white dhotis and white clothing sit behind, and a brass stand holds further offerings.2013-11-09November 20 20132013-11-20September 13 20132013-09-13November 20 20132013-11-20November 07 20132013-11-07November 20 20132013-11-20Night photograph of a homa fire ceremony on a tiered yellow-and-white fire pit with flames and smoke rising. Around it sit a group of young saffron-robed monks with shaved heads and white tripundra markings on their foreheads, some with rudraksha malas, hands joined in prayer. A standing monk in orange at the back, and a seated priest in white with a mala to the right. Brass oil lamps stand beside the pit, with yellow marigold garlands and offerings on a cloth in the foreground.2013-11-09