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A photograph of a large open-sided ritual pavilion with a sandy floor, where many men wearing green dhotis and shawls and orange-and-yellow turbans sit on the ground in rows. A shirtless man in the foreground left holds a small lamp-like object, and an older bald man with a white beard sits near a circular fire pit with a raised rim decorated in white and blue, with marigold petals. On the right, a standing figure in white dhoti, bare-chested with a rudraksha mala and gold-toned necklace and long grey hair, gestures with raised hands toward the seated group. Banana plants, painted deity figures on the back wall, and a golden seat appear in the background. The scene resembles a homa or yagna with a fire pit and seated priests.

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A photograph of a homa or yagna in an open pavilion. A square fire pit with a white-and-blue patterned rim is surrounded by seated priests in green shawls and orange-yellow turbans. One priest on the left in a yellow and red shawl holds a flaming plate, and another bare-chested priest holds a brass vessel near the fire. A standing bare-chested man in a yellow dhoti stands at the back. Banana plants, a red fenced platform and painted deity murti line the background. No appearance-based candidate for a person is clearly visible.2015-01-13January 13 20152015-01-13A large group of men in green and yellow-green dhotis and shawls sits on the ground around a square stone fire pit with a white and blue-patterned border, decorated with marigold flowers. Many wear striped orange-and-green headcloths and some are bare-chested with rudraksha-style beads. Some hold up brass vessels, cloth bundles and flower offerings. Behind them are banana plants, metal barricades and colourful painted deity panels on the wall. A standing man at right wears a yellow dhoti and a wrap, and holds nothing. This appears to be a ritual gathering of priests around a homa pit.2015-01-13A large outdoor homa or yagna under a pink and white tent, with many men in green dhotis and orange-yellow turbans seated in a circle around a white lotus-shaped fire pit. Flames and smoke rise from the pit, which is decorated with garlands of yellow and orange flowers. Several men sit bare-chested, one in yellow dhoti and one in orange dhoti, scooping grains and offerings from plates and bowls placed around the pit. Metal barricades and a red-draped table with people in the background are visible behind the circle.2015-01-13Outdoor homa or yagna at a circular fire pit with a black ash-filled centre, its raised rim painted with blue, red and white bands and decorated with flower petals. Several men in green dhotis or wraps and striped yellow-orange headwraps sit cross-legged around it, some holding wooden ladles and bowls of grain. Behind them, other seated participants in saffron, orange and pink cloth sit among smoke and steam, with bowls of offerings and plates of fruit nearby. The scene is a ritual gathering in an open courtyard.2015-01-13Outdoor yagna scene at a round sacrificial fire pit (homa kunda) with white and blue painted rim, flower petals scattered on its edge and smoke rising from the centre. Several priests in green dhotis and green shawls with orange-and-gold headcloths sit cross-legged around it, some holding ritual spoons and offerings. Brass plates, bowls of grains and powders, yellow and red kumkum/turmeric, and firewood lie on the ground. Behind them, priests in pink and white dhotis and a yellow-clad priest tend the proceedings near decorated deity murti and banana-leaf decorations. No individual here is clearly identified as a person.2015-01-13A homa or yagna in an open tent before a round fire pit with a white-and-blue painted rim and scattered flower petals. Many men in green dhotis and green shawls, with orange and striped turbans, sit on the ground around the pit. One man at left holds up a brass plate with a burning flame and offers folded hands. Some men hold small brass bowls of grains. Banana plants frame the scene, and behind a metal railing stand colourful painted deity murtis and garland-decorated statues. Smoke rises from the pit. No figure in the image is clearly identifiable as the a person, so no candidate is marked.2015-01-13January 13 20152015-01-13January 13 20152015-01-13January 13 20152015-01-13Outdoor homa at a fire pit: a circular white-and-red brick altar with green painted markings holds burning wood and flames, with smoke rising. Around it sit about seven men in green and yellow dhotis and bare torsos, with yellow and orange headcloths, some holding bowls of grains or seeds and offering into the fire. Behind them stands a deity murti decorated with yellow and orange garlands, and a tent or pandal with red and green cloth is visible. No one is identified as a person in the scene.2015-01-13A ritual homa is performed inside a open-sided pavilion before a raised square fire pit with a round central opening, its white rim decorated with blue wave patterns and scattered flower petals. Around it sit about two dozen men in green dhoti-style garments and matching green shawls, many wearing orange and yellow head turbans. A priest on the left in a yellow shawl and orange turban holds a brass plate with a flaming oil lamp, while nearby men sit with offering bowls of grains and red kumkum. Banana plants flank the enclosure, and painted deity murtis and decorations line the back wall.2015-01-13