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A photograph of a homa inside a temple shrine. A fire burns in a raised brick fire pit at the centre, with a kalasha and a wooden ladle near it. Two men sit on the floor: on the left a priest in white dhoti and shirt with a yellow shawl, reading from papers and holding a ladle, and on the right a man in a dark blue kurta and white dhoti sitting on a red patterned mat with hands folded. Brass oil lamps, bowls of offerings, fruit and bananas surround the pit. Behind them stands a printed portrait of a saffron-robed sannyasi with garlands, flanked by a deity murti in a glass case and two dark standing statues in blue and yellow garments. Banana plants and yellow and orange draped cloth decorate the shrine.

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A homa fire ceremony in a temple shrine. A raised earthen fire pit with a burning flame sits at center, decorated with green leaves and flower garlands. Behind it hangs a framed photograph of a long-haired man in orange clothing wearing a rudraksha mala, garlanded with flowers, placed as a portrait. Two dark blue deity murti figures flank the shrine under colourful pillar cloths. On the left, a man in white dhoti and shirt sits and reads from a book. On the right, a man in a navy kurta sits on a red-patterned mat, pouring an offering from a ladle into the fire. Brass oil lamps, bowls of food, fruits including bananas, apples and oranges, and a kalasha vessel surround the fire pit.2009-05-28A photograph inside a temple shrine during a homa. Two men sit cross-legged on a marble floor before a brick-red earthen fire altar (homa kund) decorated with white lines. The man on the left wears a white dhoti and shawl and presses his palms together in anjali; he sits behind a wooden stand holding an open book. The man on the right wears a dark blue kurta and white dhoti and sits with hands folded. Behind the altar, a framed portrait of a saffron-robed man with long hair and rudraksha beads is garlanded with red and white flowers, with a small deity murti set on a draped table. A brass kalasha with a coconut, banana leaves, oil lamps and a bowl of offerings are arranged around the altar, with blue-clad figures on the pillars above.2009-05-28A homa fire pit made of red-brown earth with white lime designs sits at the centre of a shrine. Behind it, a framed portrait labelled "PARAMA..." shows a figure with long hair in saffron robes and a beaded mala, garlanded with white and red flowers. Below the portrait are gold and yellow deity murtis, a kalasha-style brass pot and oil lamps. On the left, a man in white dhoti with an orange shawl sits with palms joined in prayer beside a small wooden stand. On the right, a man in a dark blue kurta sits in white trousers with hands folded, eyes closed. Potted green plants, pink flowers and brass vessels surround the altar on a polished marble floor.2009-05-28Two men perform a homa at a fire pit in a temple hall with white marble pillars and striped blue-red-orange decorative pillar cloths. On the left, an older man with glasses in white dhoti and shawl tends the flames. On the right, a man in a dark blue kurta and white dhoti bends forward holding a ritual implement over the fire. Behind them stands a deity murti in a shrine, with a framed portrait of a saint in orange garments garlanded with flowers on a draped table. Brass lamps, a kalasha, banana plants, fruit plates and a red cushion surround the scene.2009-05-28A homa is being performed inside a temple shrine. A priest in white dhoti and shirt sits on the left, working at a brick fire pit (kunda) with a ladle and a plate of offerings. A seated devotee in a dark purple kurta and white dhoti sits on the right with hands folded. Two dark stone dvarapala statues in blue and gold garments flank the entrance, which is decorated with a green leaf and marigold garland and colourful striped pillar cloths. Behind the fire pit, a framed photograph of a smiling man in orange robes with a beaded necklace is garlanded with flowers, and a deity murti sits in the inner shrine. Brass lamps, a kalasha pot, banana and fruit offerings are arranged on the floor.2009-05-28A homa is being performed in a shrine room with white pillars and painted cloth panels. A fire burns in a raised rectangular brick fire pit at centre, with a bowl of yellow liquid and brass vessels on its edge. A man in white dhoti and shirt kneels at the left feeding the fire, while a man in a dark blue kurta and white dhoti sits cross-legged on a red patterned mat at the right. Behind them stand two dark blue-robed deity statues flanking a central shrine with a small murti. A framed portrait of a saffron-robed figure with a garland sits on a table among brass lamps, fruit and flower offerings. Brass oil lamps and offering plates surround the floor in front.2009-05-28Inside a temple shrine, a priest in white dhoti and shawl with a red sash kneels at a brick-red fire pit (homa kunda) where a flame burns, pouring offerings from a brass vessel. A man in a dark navy kurta sits cross-legged on a red patterned rug opposite him. Behind the fire pit stands a framed portrait with a garland of red flowers and a figure in saffron with a rudraksha mala, flanked by brass lamps, banana leaves and flower arrangements. Brass oil lamps, plates of fruit including apples, oranges and bananas, and small bowls of offerings sit in the foreground. Large painted deity statues in blue and yellow garments stand on either side of the shrine.2009-05-28A homa is performed in a temple hall with white pillars and a shrine behind it. Two black stone dvarapala guardian statues in blue and gold garments flank the entrance, and red, yellow and green banners decorate the pillars. In the centre, a red clay fire altar holds a flame and brass vessels. A priest in white dhoti with a rudraksha mala sits at left, a man in white with glasses stands by a brass ladle, and a man in a navy kurta sits at right holding a bundle of grass. A child sits at the lower right. A framed portrait of a long-haired figure in orange robes and a garland stands on a stand behind the altar, and a deity murti in a red-and-blue dress sits in the shrine.2009-05-28A homa performed in a temple shrine room with white walls and striped red, yellow and blue pillar hangings. Two seated priests face a square brick fire pit with a bright flame, stalks of grass and a coconut placed in front. The priest on the left wears white dhoti and an orange-bordered shawl, holding a bell and a notebook. The man on the right wears a navy kurta and white dhoti and is pouring or offering from a small vessel into the fire. Behind them stands a framed portrait of a smiling man in orange garments and a garland, flanked by two dark stone statues in blue cloth and a shrine with a deity murti. Brass oil lamps and kalasha pots surround the scene.2009-05-28Photograph of a homa/yagna being performed inside a temple hall with a red-tinged marble floor. Three people sit on the floor: on the left a woman in white clothes with palms pressed together in prayer, in the centre a woman in a white sari with a red border, hands folded, and on the right a man in a dark blue kurta seated before the fire altar. A framed portrait of a saffron-robed figure with long hair and a garland stands on the altar behind a small deity murti and kalasha-like vessels. In the foreground are rows of small brass lamps filled with offerings, a plate of flowers, fruit, bananas, a brass oil lamp and a bowl of grains. Blue and orange robed statues stand in the background. The portrait is printed and not a physical person.2009-05-28A photograph of a homa fire ritual inside a temple shrine. A man in a white dhoti with a red-bordered cloth stands bent over a rectangular brick-red fire altar, pouring or placing an offering into a lit fire with a ladle. Behind him, a framed portrait of a saffron-clad figure with a rudraksha-style necklace is garlanded with red and white flowers, flanked by brass lamps and a kalasha. Two blue-clad standing deity murtis flank the shrine. At left, a man in white sits on a red cushion beside rows of small brass bowls holding offerings. At right, a seated man in a dark blue kurta sits on a red-and-white mat. Fruit, bananas and a green coconut sit on a brass plate at the base of the altar, and oil lamps are placed around the floor.2009-05-28December 23 20102010-12-23