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A night fire ritual at a brick-lined homa pit, with a large open flame rising on the left and burning logs and offerings in the pit. Behind the fire a seated man in an orange shawl over a maroon garment, with a long rudraksha-style bead necklace, a vertical forehead mark and hands folded, sits on an ornate silver-framed seat under a fringed red-and-gold parasol. A polished silver bowl rests on the brick edge in front of him. Smoke drifts through the scene, and a tall silver staff with a trident-like finial stands to the left. Appearance-based identity is uncertain; the seated figure is a priest-like presenter at the homa. A few other people are barely visible at the edges. a person cues: seated on a throne-like seat under a parasol, with a bead necklace and orange shawl.

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A photograph of a homa fire pit lined with reddish brick, with bright orange flames rising on the left and offerings burning inside. Behind the fire, a man sits on an ornate silver-framed seat under a fringed, embroidered red-and-gold umbrella. He wears an orange shawl over a maroon garment, a beaded mala necklace, and a vertical mark on his forehead. A silver bowl rests on the brick edge beside the fire. A silver trident stands to the left, with another umbrella behind it. A partially visible person in white stands at the right edge and another seated figure is at the left. a person with long hair and a crown-like headwrap is not visible here; the seated man shows a shaved head, so the a person candidate is uncertain.2014-08-01August 01 20142014-08-01Night fire ritual, a homa at a brick-lined fire pit with tall orange flames and smoke. A man in white dhoti and shawl on the left holds a silver vessel over the fire. Seated at right on an ornate silver-backed chair with leopard-print cushion is a man in an orange shawl over a maroon-red robe, wearing a white flower garland and a red-orange tilak on his forehead, hands joined in his lap. Behind him, priests in red-orange and white garments stand, and a woman in orange-red sari with hands folded stands nearby. A silver bowl sits on the brick edge, and a silver ceremonial staff with a fringed canopy rises at right.2014-08-01August 01 20142014-08-01A night homa in progress at an open-air site: a square brick fire pit with tall orange flames rising from it. A man seated at left wears a saffron-orange wrap, rudraksha beads and a red-marked forehead, and tends the fire with a ladle near a silver bowl. Behind him stand tall ornate staffs and a silver-framed umbrella. At right, deity murti are dressed in red and gold with orange and red garlands on a red draped platform, and a row of seated devotees watches in the dim light. A brass vessel and flower offerings lie at the front of the fire pit.2014-08-01August 01 20142014-08-01Night photograph of a fire ritual (homa) in a brick fire pit with tall flames rising on the left. Seated behind the pit on a silver-framed throne under an ornate fringed parasol is a smiling person in an orange shawl over dark red robes, with a red bindi and a long beaded mala around the neck. A silver bowl sits on the brick edge before them, and a silver trident stands beside the fire. On the right, a person in white dhoti and shawl stands with hands folded. Dim figures are visible in the background.2014-08-01A photograph of a ritual fire pit lined with brick, with flames and glowing embers at the bottom of the frame. Behind it a man sits on a raised cushioned seat in front of a silver-framed backrest and a silver umbrella, with a silver trident standing beside him. He wears an orange shawl over a maroon garment with gold border and a beaded mala, and has a tilak on his forehead. A silver bowl rests on the brick edge above the fire. Blue light and smoke fill the dim background, and a seated attendant in red appears at the left edge.2014-08-01August 01 20142014-08-01A night homa at a brick fire pit with bright flames, lit against a dark background. A man in an orange shawl over maroon robes, with a rudraksha mala and a white forehead mark, sits on a raised silver-framed seat beneath an ornate fringed canopy, a trident-topped pole behind him. Around the fire, several people in maroon and red robes sit with palms pressed together in prayer, one holding a metal bowl and ladle, others with brass vessels, flower petals and small bowls of offerings nearby. A woman in a red sari sits at left. The scene reads as a fire ritual performed with offerings and prayer.2014-08-01Night ritual homa at a riverside ghat: a large fire blazes in a rectangular brick fire pit while a man in saffron-orange cloth with a rudraksha mala and painted face sits behind it, pouring offerings into the flames from a metal bowl. Silver trident-topped parasols stand behind him, and brass pots, bowls of flowers and rose petals sit around the pit. To the right, a red-draped platform holds deity murtis garlanded with orange marigolds, and a group of seated people in white and saffron clothing watch. Long silver staffs and a decorative ceremonial bowl with handle frame the scene.2014-08-01August 01 20142014-08-01