Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
Photograph of a homa or fire ritual in a decorated hall. In the foreground a small fire burns in a rectangular pit with a bowl and ladle beside it. Three young men sit in front of a gold-and-red throne backdrop, wearing saffron dhotis, gold beaded necklaces, rudraksha-style beaded mala strands and bands on their arms, with white horizontal markings across their chests and foreheads and hair tied in high topknots. A fourth figure stands behind them, and a camera on a tripod is visible at left. The scene is a ritual setting with ornate golden decorations behind the seated figures.

More like this

Open the gallery
Three young men in orange cloth and bare chests stand behind a golden square fire pit, a homa, with smoke rising from it. Each wears a gold-beaded necklace with a rudraksha-style mala and a sacred thread, and white ash lines on the forehead, arms and chest. The man on the left holds a phone, the middle one holds an offering, and the man on the right holds a small object in both hands. A brass bowl sits at the pit's edge beside a flame and flower garlands. Behind them is a golden throne with a leopard-skin cover and a golden deity figure, with cameras and onlookers visible at the left.2016-12-19December 19 20162016-12-19A night homa at a sacred fire pit, a rectangular brick-edged yagna kunda lined with yellow flower petals and pink-red powder. Three young men stand bare-chested with white tripundra and horizontal body markings, wearing rudraksha malas and gold-toned necklaces; the foremost one holds an offering and tips a vessel toward the flames. Another in saffron cloth sits beside the fire. Behind them, seated devotees in white and marigold garlands watch, and a gold and jewelled throne with a leopard-print cushion stands at right. A small oil lamp sits at lower right.2016-12-19Three young men seated on a raised golden platform in a temple hall, performing a ritual. Each wears saffron-orange dhoti or cloth, rudraksha-style beaded necklaces, a saffron shawl, and white sacred ash marks with bands on the forehead and arms. The two on the left and centre hold microphones and speak or chant; the one on the right sits with palms pressed together in prayer. Brass vessels, a silver cup, fruit, flowers and a basket of petals lie on the floor before them. Behind them is a golden throne draped in leopard-print cloth, with a golden lion figure and a yellow flower-garlanded backdrop. Other devotees sit in the background, some with hands folded.2016-12-19December 19 20162016-12-19Three young male priests sit on a golden-yellow platform in orange and saffron dhotis with bare upper bodies marked with white horizontal stripes of vibhuti. Each wears a rudraksha-style mala and gold necklace, and their hair is tied in topknots. The left and centre priests hold microphones while chanting, and the right priest sits with palms pressed together in prayer. Behind them rises an ornate golden throne draped with leopard-print cloth and framed by yellow marigold garlands and a decorative arch. In front, brass vessels, flower baskets, a kalasha-style pot and a silver plate hold offerings for a puja. A figure in pink-and-white sari with flower garlands sits with hands folded at the left edge.2016-12-19May 24 20182018-05-24 +1 copiesMay 07 20172017-05-07A homa fire burns in a yellow-bordered square fire pit, with flames rising at left. Two young men with white sacred-ash markings and bare chests stand in the foreground; the one at right wears a rudraksha mala with gold ornaments and holds a ladle-like vessel near the fire, while the one center wears gold necklaces and speaks into a handheld microphone. Seated devotees in garlands fill the background, and a gold and jewelled throne with a leopard-skin cover stands at right beside marigold garlands. Oil lamps sit near the base of the pit. Approximately 20 people are visible.2016-12-19Three young men seated on a colourful striped rug perform a ritual in orange saffron cloth with rudraksha malas and gold bead necklaces, their arms and chests marked with white ash lines. The central young man in an orange wrap holds a white ritual cord toward the figure on the right, who wears an orange turban with a jewelled ornament and a red forehead mark. Brass vessels, a kalasha pot with green leaves and flowers, a microphone and small offering dishes sit before them. Behind them, a seated man in white dhoti and gold necklaces sits beside a gold-framed altar with a small bronze deity murti. A devotee's back is visible at the lower right edge.2017-05-05January 04 20172017-01-04 +1 copiesJanuary 11 20172017-01-11