Skip to content
Nithyanandapedia
Night ritual outdoors under a tin-roofed pavilion with a large fire pit (homa) at centre, smoke rising. Behind it stands a standing woman in a red garment with a red-and-white beaded necklace, holding a small offering. A large ornate red-and-gold throne is to her right. On the left, a shaved-headed man in white dhoti and white shirt sits cross-legged on a mat before the fire, hands pressed together; a woman in white sits in the lower-left foreground. At right, a man in saffron-orange robes holds a tray. A deity murti with a red-and-gold crown and a sculpted figure sit in an altar of marigolds and brass lamps, with a large white decorated umbrella overhead. Tables hold bananas, apples, limes, coconuts, bowls of flowers, firewood and offerings.

More like this

Open the gallery
Night photograph of an outdoor ritual homa at a temple-like pavilion. A shaved-headed priest in white dhoti and upper cloth sits on a mat at left with hands folded in prayer. A standing woman in a red sari with a red-and-gold garland and a beaded necklace holds her hands near a fire pit and offering table. A seated elderly man in white is visible behind the fire pit. Dark ritual tables hold bananas, mangoes, apples, coconuts, flowers, bowls and a pile of firewood, with smoke rising. On the right, a man in saffron-orange robes stands holding a tray. Behind them, a large decorated deity murti with a trident and garlands stands beside a golden lion, under a white canopy with colourful hanging cloth streamers.2010-10-11October 11 20102010-10-11A night-time ritual scene at an outdoor temple pavilion. A standing figure with long dark hair wears a red-maroon dhoti and a gold-bordered shawl over a bare upper body, with a long beaded necklace and ornaments, gesturing with one hand toward a fire pit. A seated priest in white dhoti and white top on the left presses his palms together in prayer beside a white stone homa platform holding a dark fire pit and brass vessels with flowers. Behind, a large deity murti with multiple arms holding weapons is garlanded with white and orange flowers, flanked by smaller figures. A red velvet chair with gold trim stands empty on the right. Trays of fruit, lemons, flowers, coconuts and vegetables are arranged in front. Overhead, decorative hanging tassels and leafy garlands surround the canopy.2010-10-11A night-time ritual photograph at an open-air ashram pavilion with a fire pit (homa/yagna) set in a white marble platform. A bald priest in white dhoti and shawl sits at left with palms joined in prayer, beside a brass kalasha and offerings of flowers, fruit, coconuts and vegetables. At centre, a man in a deep maroon garment with a gold-bordered shawl and beaded necklace stands with one arm extended over the fire, the smoke rising behind him. A red and gold throne stands to the right, and a second white-clad priest sits in the background near the fire. Behind them are ornate deity murtis with a multi-armed goddess figure, garlanded and decorated with white lace backdrops, and striped tassel decorations hang overhead.2010-10-11A night-time puja held under a thatched canopy hung with mango leaves and tassels. At the centre, a large deity murti with many arms stands on a decorated platform, flanked by smaller murtis and white floral arches. In front, a priest in white dhoti and shawl, with a rudraksha mala, tends a flame near a fire pit and brass lamps. A seated figure in a red-and-gold chair, wearing a dark dress, sits in the right-centre; a man in saffron robes sits on the floor beside a folded-hands devotee in saffron at the far right. Trays of fruit, sweets, coconuts and offerings cover the white cloth in the foreground. The scene shows a homa-style ritual with offerings.2010-10-11Night ritual in an open hall with a fire pit and offerings. A shaven-headed priest in white dhoti and white upper cloth sits at left beside a small flame and brass vessels, performing a homa. Behind a white marble platform with a dark central pit stands a large decorated deity murti with a golden crown and ornate white arch, flanked by additional painted figures and a lion beneath. Brass oil lamps stand on the platform. Fruit, coconuts and plates of offerings are arranged in the foreground. At right, a person in red-and-gold dress sits on an ornate red and gold throne-like chair beside another seated priest in white. Hanging striped cloth panels decorate the walls.2010-10-11 +1 copiesOctober 11 20102010-10-11 +1 copiesOctober 11 20102010-10-11A night-time homa ritual before a deity murti of a multi-armed goddess, shown with a lion mount and several attendant figures. A priest with a bare shaved head, wearing a white dhoti and a gold necklace, sits on the left beside a small fire burning in a metal pit. In front of the murti are a large white square altar, brass oil lamps, and trays of fruit, coconuts and vegetables spread across a white cloth. On the right, a seated person in an orange-trimmed red garment sits in a red cushioned chair with a gilded armrest. Ornate white floral backdrops, decorative umbrellas and a red-and-gold canopy frame the scene.2010-10-11A night-time ritual under a open-sided pavilion with a striped canopy and hanging decorations. On the left, large deity murtis with garlands and an ornate arch stand behind a long wooden altar draped in a purple cloth. A priest in white dhoti with red-bordered cloth and bare chest holds a burning lamp toward offerings, while a woman in a maroon sari and red blouse sits at the altar. Brass lamps, fruits, vegetables, plates and flowers cover the altar, and a golden throne-like seat stands at the back. Seated devotees fill the foreground and right side, and strings of lights glow in the background.2010-10-16 +1 copiesNight ritual scene in a covered open-sided pavilion with red walls and a leafy decorated roof. A large deity murti stands at back with a white-and-decorative canopy above, flanked by smaller murtis and a kalasha-like arrangement. In front, a white square homa/yagna altar holds a small fire at its left; a priest in white dhoti with bare upper body and orange-yellow sacred thread sits before it, tending the fire. Trays of fruit, coconuts, sweets, bananas, lemons and flower offerings spread across a white cloth in the foreground. At right, a person in red-and-gold clothing sits in an ornate red velvet chair with gold legs, with an orange cushion, while another person in white kneels with hands folded nearby. Another man in white stands at left with hands joined.2010-10-11 +1 copiesNight-time ritual photograph inside a decorated hall with a large elaborate deity murti of a goddess with a crown, lion mount and silver halo at left, and small figures seated near it. A man in white dhoti with white ash on his body sits cross-legged before a black stone yajna or homa fire pit strewn with petals and flanked by brass vessels and oil lamps. Standing at right, a man in orange robe and a bare-chested man in red-brown dhoti with white markings hold their palms together in prayer near a throne-like seat. A bearded man in white with an orange turban stands holding a silver tray. Smoke rises and strings of lights glow in the background.2010-10-16