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A night-time homa at a yellow-and-white square fire pit. A bright flame and smoke rise from the ash-filled pit, with a tray of bananas, pineapple and fruit nearby. About eight men in saffron-orange robes with white tilak marks sit on mats around the pit, several with rudraksha malas and one wearing a white cloth with a mala. Brass oil lamps, a tall brass lamp stand and marigold garlands sit at the edge of the scene, with a shelf of ritual vessels behind.

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A photograph of a homa fire ritual on a raised, yellow-and-white tiered fire pit with burning embers and ash inside. Around it sit about eight shaven-headed young men in saffron-orange robes with white tilak marks, rudraksha-style beaded necklaces, and some with bare upper bodies, seated on mats. Brass oil lamps (kuthuvilakku) with yellow marigold garlands stand at the right, alongside a brass vessel and a plate of bananas and pineapple. A seated figure in white garments with beaded necklaces is visible at the upper right, and a few other people in saffron appear at the top edge. A faint printed caption at the bottom right is partly legible.2013-11-09A night-time homa at an outdoor ritual area. A square fire pit with yellow-and-white tiered borders holds burning wood and ash. Seated on the left are several young shaven-headed sannyasi-style men in orange robes with white forehead markings and rudraksha malas. A man in a white dhoti and white top with a black mala sits behind the fire pit, with flames rising in front of him. A standing man in orange cloth stands at the back. Brass oil lamps (deepams), a plate of bananas, yellow marigold garlands, and brass ritual vessels surround the fire. Yellow flower garlands are placed at the right edge.2013-11-09A night-time homa at a square yellow-and-white fire pit, with a small flame and ash burning in the centre. Several young shaved-headed men in saffron-orange robes, some with white forehead markings and beaded necklaces, sit on mats around the fire. One man in white clothes sits at the far side tending the fire. Brass oil lamps stand at the corners, a plate of bananas, pineapple and lemons sits on the left, and yellow marigold garlands lie to the right. The photo shows the men seated in a ritual setting with a mat-covered floor.2013-11-09November 09 20132013-11-09A night-time homa at an open-air ashram hall. A square yellow-and-white tiered fire pit holds a burning fire with smoke rising. About nine young shaved-headed men in saffron-orange robes with white tilak marks and rudraksha malas sit cross-legged around it; one in the foreground tends the fire while others sit with folded hands. A standing young man in orange stands at the back, and a figure in white sits on the right. Brass oil lamps stand on the right beside yellow marigold garlands and a cloth offering. Dim background with a few onlookers.2013-11-09Night photograph of a homa fire ceremony on a tiered yellow-and-white fire pit with flames and smoke rising. Around it sit a group of young saffron-robed monks with shaved heads and white tripundra markings on their foreheads, some with rudraksha malas, hands joined in prayer. A standing monk in orange at the back, and a seated priest in white with a mala to the right. Brass oil lamps stand beside the pit, with yellow marigold garlands and offerings on a cloth in the foreground.2013-11-09November 09 20132013-11-09November 20 20132013-11-20September 13 20132013-09-13Night-time homa at an open ashram courtyard. A fire burns in a yellow-and-white tiered fire pit decorated with painted motifs, with dry grass laid around its base. Several shaved-headed young men in saffron-orange robes with rudraksha malas and white forehead markings sit cross-legged around the fire, some making offerings. At right, a figure in white dhoti with a white head cloth and white shawl sits beside the fire, along with another in white. A man in orange robes sits in the background. A yellow flower garland and a tray of fruit sit at the right edge. Smoke rises into the dark roof area.2013-10-15A square fire pit, yoni-shaped homa kunda framed in yellow-painted wood and decorated with marigold and red flower petals, has a flame burning inside it. A white-robed priest with a white turban and rudraksha beads kneels at the pit feeding offerings into the fire. Around him sit several young men in saffron-orange robes with rudraksha malas and white tilak marks, some holding offering vessels and palm-leaf items. Brass bowls with flowers and kumkum sit on the mat, and a red-and-white patterned rug lies at the front. The setting is a night homa or yagna ritual with kolam designs on the floor.2013-11-20September 30 20132013-09-30