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A night-time homa at an open-air ashram hall. A square yellow-and-white tiered fire pit holds a burning fire with smoke rising. About nine young shaved-headed men in saffron-orange robes with white tilak marks and rudraksha malas sit cross-legged around it; one in the foreground tends the fire while others sit with folded hands. A standing young man in orange stands at the back, and a figure in white sits on the right. Brass oil lamps stand on the right beside yellow marigold garlands and a cloth offering. Dim background with a few onlookers.

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Night 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.2013-11-09A 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 yellow-and-white square fire pit. A bright flame and smoke rise from the ash-filled pit, with a tray of bananas, pineapple and fruit nearby. About eight men in saffron-orange robes with white tilak marks sit on mats around the pit, several with rudraksha malas and one wearing a white cloth with a mala. Brass oil lamps, a tall brass lamp stand and marigold garlands sit at the edge of the scene, with a shelf of ritual vessels behind.2013-11-09November 09 20132013-11-09A night-time homa or yagna at a square fire pit lined with yellow-painted sides and strewn with yellow marigold garlands and rose petals. Seven people sit on mats in orange and saffron robes with white forehead marks and rudraksha malas. A central figure in white clothing and a white head cloth holds offerings over the fire. Brass plates, a bowl and a small lamp sit nearby, and a red and white patterned mat lies at the front. Behind the fire pit a dais is draped in red and blue cloth and decorated with flowers. Visible people are seated in a row with hands folded in prayer.2013-11-20December 17 20132013-12-17A 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.2013-11-09Night-time outdoor ritual at a temple-like courtyard. A priest in an orange turban and orange-gold dhoti stands at left holding a silver tray of yellow flowers and fruit. Beside him a man in a white dhoti holds a brass plate with a lit oil lamp and offerings. Several young boys sit in a row on a raised platform strewn with yellow marigold petals, wearing white and orange garlands, sacred ash and orange or blue cloths. A devotee woman in a white sari with garland sits in the background. Brass vessels and a red kalasha-like pot rest on the platform, with flower garlands hanging from the roof.2016-10-10A seated group ritual in a hall where many young men and boys in saffron-orange dhotis and shawls, with red borders, wear rudraksha malas and white horizontal tilak stripes on their foreheads and arms. In the foreground, a bald man in saffron holds a small brass oil lamp with both hands, while a seated man in white with a rudraksha mala holds palms together in prayer beside him. Brass lamps and plates with offerings sit on the floor. Behind them, a woman in a white sari stands among the seated participants.2014-04-08November 20 20132013-11-20Night-time homa at an outdoor ritual space. A fire burns in a yellow-edged stone fire pit, sending up smoke. Several young men in orange-saffron robes sit on the floor, some with shaved heads and white tilak marks, some wearing rudraksha malas. A young man in front on the right, with a shaved head and white markings on his chest, sits with an open book and offering items. Behind him stands a gold lamp stand with an oil lamp, beside a red velvet and gold throne. A framed portrait on the throne shows a figure in orange robes with a mala. Yellow marigold garlands and brass vessels surround the fire pit.2013-11-09