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A photograph of a homa fire burning on a white stone fire pit in front of a group of deity murti with a large white and gold arched backdrop, with Durga-type figures and a small elephant-headed figure garlanded with marigolds. A priest in white dhoti and shawl with a shaved head stands at left with palms pressed together in prayer. At right, a priest in orange robes holds a lit oil lamp aloft while another orange-robed attendant stands behind him. Brass lamps, brass bowls, a book and small offering plates sit near the fire. Red string lights frame the shrine wall, which reads Sri Nithyanandeshwara Temple on a banner above.

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A photograph inside a temple shrine lit with string lights, with a sign reading "SRI NANDESHWARA TEMPLE" above. A large fire burns in a raised white homa pit in front of a elaborately decorated deity murti of a goddess with multiple small attendant figures and a deity with an elephant head. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti with a shaved head stands at left with hands folded in namaste, and a figure in saffron robes stands at left behind him. At right, a person in orange robes and a rudraksha mala stands with hands folded, and another saffron-clad attendant holds a plate. Brass vessels, offerings and a lamp sit on the floor in front of the fire. The scene shows a homa or fire ritual.2011-10-04A photograph of a homa at Sri Nandeshwara Temple before a large deity murti of Durga-style goddess with multiple arms, white and silver decorated halo, garlanded with marigolds. A sacred fire burns in a square fire pit in front. On the left a priest in white dhoti with gold border stands with hands joined in namaskara; beside him a man in saffron-orange cloth. On the right a man in orange-saffron garments holds a plate of offerings and lights a flame, with another person in orange beside him. Brass oil lamps stand on the floor and red fairy lights decorate the wall.2011-10-04October 05 20112011-10-05October 05 20112011-10-05A night homa ritual at the Sri Nithyandeshwara Temple, with a large fire blazing on a white stone platform in front of a shrine. Behind the fire, deity murtis are decorated with white and gold sculpted crowns, red and yellow garlands. On the right, a man in saffron-orange robes and an orange turban pours or feeds offerings into the flames with a long wooden ladle. On the left, a shaved-headed young man in white dhoti and a gold-edged shawl with a garland stands beside the fire. Brass vessels, a flower-filled plate and a kalasha sit on the ground, and string lights line the orange walls.2011-10-05A night-time homa at the Sri Nandeshwara Temple, with a large fire burning on a white stone fire pit in the foreground. Behind it stands a large goddess murti with a white crown and red-and-gold sari, flanked by smaller figures and a lion mount, surrounded by a halo of white fan-shaped decorations and strings of orange lights. On the left, a bald young priest in a white dhoti with gold trim and gold necklaces holds a metal bowl. On the right, a priest in a saffron-orange turban, bare-chested and wearing an orange dhoti and rudraksha mala, pours an offering into the flames with a long ladle. Pale flower petals lie on the stone floor, and a tall wall sign reads SRI NANDESHWARA TEMPLE.2011-10-05October 05 20112011-10-05October 04 20112011-10-04A homa fire burns in a stone fire pit in front of a deity murti of a goddess in a white and red sari with a crown and multiple garlands, flanked by smaller murtis of other deities including a figure with an elephant-headed form. A shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and shawl with gold borders holds a ritual vessel over the flames, while another ritually clad man in saffron sits at the right and a person in white stands at the left edge. Brass vessels, a kalasha, flower garlands and offerings lie on the ground, and red lights decorate the temple walls beneath a signboard reading Sri Nithyananda Ideshwara Temple.2011-10-05Night ceremony at the Sri Aneshwara Temple, with a large fire burning in a white-edged fire pit in front of a multi-figure deity murti framed by a white floral arch and garlands. A shaved-headed young person in white dhoti and shawl stands at left with palms pressed together. At right, a man in orange robe holds a lit aarti lamp toward the shrine, while another in orange clothing with a beaded necklace sits beside a brass oil lamp. Brass vessels with offerings and a red armchair appear in the foreground, and string lights decorate the orange-red walls. The signage above reads Sri Aneshwara Temple, and a side banner advertises admission fees and timings.2011-10-04Night ritual homa at a temple with a large fire burning in a white square fire pit in front of an ornate deity murti of a goddess with multiple arms and a white decorated halo, flanked by smaller figures. A bald man in orange-saffron robes with a rudraksha-style necklace stands at right, holding a long ladle or torch of flame over the fire. A second man in orange garments bends over at left, and a seated priest in white with a mala sits at lower left beside brass vessels of offerings, rice and fruit on banana leaves. Strings of red lights and an oil lamp decorate the walls, and a sign reads Sri Nithyananda Temple.2011-10-04Night ritual at a temple shrine lit by many small oil lamps strung along the back wall. A deity murti with a large ornate silver-and-gold halo stands behind a white stone homa pit where a fire blazes. On the left a priest in a white dhoti with gold border stands facing the shrine, holding ritual items. On the right a seated man in orange-saffron robes and a rudraksha mala sits with hands folded in prayer on a red cushioned seat. Brass vessels and a lamp stand on the platform in front. A banner and a wall display are visible in the background.2011-10-03