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Night outdoor puja before a pink Ganesha murti and a white-and-gold decorated deity murti under a colourful canopy. A standing priest in white dhoti and shawl, wearing gold beaded necklaces, holds a lit flame over the offerings. Seated devotees in white dhotis, bare-chested, with gold chains and folded hands face the altar. Strings of red fairy lights and green mango-leaf garlands decorate the backdrop, with a hanging orange tassel at upper right. Brass vessels and a brass lamp sit on the altar cloth.

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October 15 20102010-10-15Night outdoor ritual before a stone fire pit or homa altar lit by a bright light and strings of multicoloured lights. A bald priest in white dhoti and shawl sits cross-legged behind the altar with hands folded, another priest in white sits to his right, and several young boys in white cloth sit on mats in front, one holding a brass plate of offerings and another with hands in anjali. Boys wear gold ceremonial necklaces. A pink Ganesha murti decorated with flowers and garlands stands at right beside brass oil lamps, bananas and marigold garlands. Banana leaves, a decorated pillar and a carved wooden throne-like seat appear in the background.2010-10-15October 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesNight photo of a Chandi Homa fire ritual in an outdoor courtyard decorated with string lights and tall ceremonial poles. In the foreground a rectangular stone fire pit burns brightly while a barebodied priest in white dhoti and shawl stands at left holding a flaming ladle or lamp toward the fire. Around the pit, several men in white dhotis and bare torsos sit on the ground, some with folded hands and some with ritual vessels of offerings, flowers and grains. Behind them a large white-and-red decorated deity murti of the goddess with multiple arms and weapons is surrounded by smaller statues of an elephant-headed deity and other figures, with brass oil lamps lit before the altar. A standing man in white clothing is visible in the background near the lights.2010-10-16 +2 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +2 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesA night homa at an ashram altar. A shaven-headed priest in white dhoti and cream upper cloth with red border pours an oblation from a metal vessel into a large flaming fire pit, the flames leaping high. Two young boys in white sit cross-legged behind the fire, holding small red offerings. Brass bowls, a kalasha-like vessel and oil lamps sit on the altar. Behind them, a decorated deity murti is garlanded with white flowers and a red floral garland, with string lights in red and green glowing in the background. Several white-clad devotees stand watching at the left.2010-10-16Night photograph of a homa ritual at an outdoor ashram site lit by string lights. A bald priest in white dhoti and shawl stands at the front holding a flaming ritual vessel aloft over a square fire pit lined with brick, while a second man in a white outfit with a yellow sash stands behind him holding a camera. A seated priest on the right wears a white dhoti and an orange-gold beaded necklace, with brass lamps, fruit, flower garlands and a bowl of offerings before him. Behind them a pink Ganesha murti is decorated with marigold garlands and stands beside a brass lamp, and a canopy with fringed trim frames the scene. Several other men in white sit or stand around the fire pit. Ashram lights and a sign lettered in Devanagari script are visible in the background.2010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copiesOctober 16 20102010-10-16 +1 copies