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Night-time homa ritual in an open-air temple courtyard with a shallow fire pit in the foreground, ringed with marigold garlands and red flower petals. Several shirtless priests in white dhotis with yellow borders stand around the flames; one holds a small brass vessel and another raises a tapered ritual implement, while a third has hands folded in namaskar. To the far right an older man in a blue-bordered white dhoti tends a table draped in red and covered with flowers and fruit. Behind the fire, a shrine on the left holds a colourful deity murti framed by a decorated arch, and white scaffolding and pillars line the hall. Offering plates, a brass lamp, and a yellow cloth bundle sit on the ground.

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March 02 20182018-03-02Night-time homa at an open-air temple pavilion. In the foreground a large fire burns in a tiered yagna kunda decorated with marigold garlands and red kumkum. Behind it a priest in white dhoti with a saffron-and-gold shawl holds a vessel over the flames and offers oblations, while a second priest in cream dhoti with a gold border holds a bundle of kusha grass beside him. At right a man in a saffron dhoti with a red rudraksha mala and bare chest, hands folded in anjali, stands by a table of flowers and offerings. Behind them more white-clad priests tend additional fire pits under bamboo-supported roofing, with a deity shrine lit at the back. Coconuts, flowers and brass pots sit on the ground.2018-03-02Night-time homa at an outdoor temple courtyard. Several priests in white dhotis and bare upper bodies stand around raised stone fire pits, one with a large flame. A priest in a yellow-and-white dhoti holds a ladle or offering over the central fire, while another with folded hands stands beside him. On the right, a golden deity murti or ornate image is decorated with red and yellow flower garlands, with fruits, coconuts and brass vessels arranged on a red-draped table. Marigold garlands line the fire platforms. Scaffolding and pillars frame the background, and a lit shrine is visible at left.2018-03-02Night-time homa at an open-air temple pavilion with bamboo scaffolding and a partly built pillared hall behind. A large fire blazes in a tiered yagna kund ringed with yellow marigold and red flower garlands. On the right, a bare-chested priest in white dhoti and shawl pours an offering from a vessel into the flames. Behind him, several priests in white and saffron stand with hands joined. On the left, a seated figure in a gold and red throne under a colourful canopy wears a flower garland and sits with hands folded, marked as the presiding figure. Brass vessels and a plate sit on the floor in front.2018-03-02Night-time outdoor homa at a temple-style setting. In the foreground a bare-chested priest in white dhoti with a yellow-bordered cloth sits beside a flaming fire pit ringed with marigold and red flower garlands, pouring an offering from a small steel bowl. Behind him another priest in white dhoti and gold-bordered cloth stands tending the ceremony, and a third figure kneels at a second fire pit further back. A red-draped table holds flowers and petals, and fruit and brass vessels sit on the ground. Scaffolding and red curtains frame the scene.2018-03-02Night-time fire ritual (homa/yagna) at a temple courtyard. A shirtless man with a striped yellow-and-blue dhoti and a rudraksha-style necklace stands with palms joined before the flames. In the centre, a bald priest in white dhoti with a saffron-and-gold shawl pours offerings into a burning fire pit. A kneeling person in white clothing bends over the fire pit. Fresh flower garlands in red and white, fruit, and marigold offerings lie around the raised platform. Behind them, a shrine holds a deity murti with a garlanded image beside it, and white pillars line the colonnade. A man in white stands at the right edge holding a metal vessel.2018-03-02December 07 20162016-12-07A night-time puja at an outdoor ritual platform under a bamboo-scaffolded structure. A bald priest in white dhoti with orange shawl and rudraksha mala leans forward, lighting a brass aarti lamp before a golden deity murti decorated with red and white flowers and garlands. Behind him, several priests in white dhotis stand with hands folded or holding ritual objects, one in a blue-bordered dhoti at right. A man in orange robes kneels with hands joined at left. Offerings of fruit, flowers and brass vessels line the foreground steps and altar. Yellow marigold garlands decorate the stone steps, and red cloth covers the altar table. Approximately six people are visible.2018-03-02Night photo of a homa fire ritual at an open temple courtyard. In the centre, a bare-chested priest in white dhoti with a gold-and-saffron cloth draped over the shoulder holds a silver vessel with a coconut and fruit toward a stone fire pit with bright flames and flower garlands. Beside him, another priest in a white dhoti with yellow borders holds ritual items and performs the offering. At right, a priest with folded palms wears red beads and a yellow-and-blue dhoti. Brass pots, marigold garlands and red offerings lie around the fire, and a shrine with deity murti and wooden pillars with bamboo scaffolding stands behind. Several more priests in white are visible at left.2018-03-02Night ritual inside a partly built open hall with bamboo scaffolding and concrete pillars. A seated man on a gilded ornate throne with a red cushion wears a rust-orange garment and a garland of red and yellow flowers, and a robed attendant stands near him. A bare-chested priest in white dhoti and shawl, with rudraksha beads, tends a homa fire pit ringed with yellow marigold and red flower garlands, holding a small bowl and ritual items. Brass vessels, a trident, a kalasha-style lamp stand and a patterned mat lie on the floor. Seven or so other priests in white dhotis stand in folded-hands devotion behind the fire, and a woman in orange sari stands at the rear. A golden canopy hangs above the throne.2018-03-02March 02 20182018-03-02March 02 20182018-03-02