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Outdoor puja scene on bare ground under a banana leaf canopy. A shaved-headed man in an orange saffron robe with an orange-red shawl and a long gold-bead necklace sits cross-legged, ringing a silver handbell with his right hand while holding a small oil lamp in his left. Beside him, a man in white dhoti and kurta with a yellow shawl and rudraksha mala holds a brass tray with a bowl of vermilion, kumkum, turmeric, a banana and flowers. A young man with glasses in a yellow shawl sits at the left edge, and another man in white with a yellow shawl holds a silver bowl of flowers at the right. Brass plates of offerings are visible behind.

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An outdoor ritual scene under a canopy with a fire-pit homa area and offerings. A shaven-headed priest in saffron-orange robes with a red-and-orange shawl and wooden bead necklaces sits centrally, holding a small ritual vessel and a bell. Around him, several young men in white dhotis and yellow shawls assist: one holds a silver tray with kumkum, vermilion and a small bowl, another kneels with a brass plate of marigold flowers, and another seated figure with a yellow shawl holds a silver dish. Dark tree trunks and a plastered wall frame the sandy ground, with mats and banana leaves nearby.2009-09-26 +1 copiesOutdoor homa ceremony on a mat-covered sandy floor under palm trees. A shaved-headed man in an orange saffron robe, a gold-beaded necklace and a red-and-gold rudraksha-style bead mala sits cross-legged with hands folded at the centre of the group. Men in white dhotis and yellow shawls attend around him: one kneels holding a silver vessel, another offers a brass tray of lamps and small bowls, and a wooden stake rises beside the sacred area marked with white powder lines. Marigold petals and small bowls of rice lie on the ground. Several seated white-clad participants sit in the background.2009-09-26A photograph of a homa ritual on a floor covered with woven mats, with bamboo poles framing the space. A man in an orange robe with a rudraksha mala and a heavy gold-beaded necklace sits cross-legged and holds a small brass vessel while a man in white with a yellow shawl pours from a silver vessel. Another man in white with a yellow shawl and a woman in orange sit nearby, and a seated man in white with a mala is at the edge. Brass plates with offerings, marigold petals and a small fire with smoke are visible, along with a drawn symbol on the ground.2009-09-26A photograph of a Chandi Homa ritual held outdoors on bare red earth under a canopy. A bald man in an orange saffron robe with a red-orange shawl and a rudraksha mala sits cross-legged, holding a small silver vessel and offering flowers into a bowl. Around him, young men in white dhotis and white shirts with yellow shawls kneel and hold brass trays of lamps, sweets and offerings. Brass vessels, a flower-filled silver bowl and banana-leaf trays lie on the ground, with a wooden pole and white tent behind. The scene has a sannyasi-led puja atmosphere. Whether the orange-robed man is a person cannot be confirmed from appearance.2009-09-26A photograph of an outdoor homa ritual under a open-sided canopy with palm trees behind. A man in an orange saffron robe with an orange shawl over the shoulders, wearing glasses and a rudraksha mala, sits cross-legged with palms pressed together in prayer. Around him, several men in white dhotis and yellow shawls assist: one holds a brass tray of offerings, another holds a small brass vessel and spoon near a fire-pit, and a seated man in white holds a large silver vessel. A wooden pole stands in front, with marigold petals and a kolam on the ground. Mats are spread on the floor.2009-09-26Outdoor puja on bare dry ground beside a wooden pole. A figure in an orange shawl over orange robes, with a rudraksha mala and a ceremonial gold necklace, sits at a woven striped mat, pouring or adding substance into a small brass bowl. Nearby, young men in white kurtas with yellow shawls kneel: one holds a brass tray of flowers and offerings, another holds a plate of small brass cups, and one at the left lights a small flame in a dish. Brass pots and a kalasha-style vessel sit on the mat with marigolds and pink flowers.2009-09-25Outdoor ritual under a colourful striped canopy with a red and gold embroidered hanging at the left edge. A man in saffron-orange robes with a light orange head covering, a vertical white forehead mark and beaded mala necklaces holds a bell in one hand and a small ritual vessel over a flame in the other, performing an offering. Barefoot, he stands on a striped mat on reddish earth. Around him, several young men in white dhotis and white shirts with yellow scarves hold silver plates and trays of offerings, some wearing rudraksha mala beads. A man in white with a silver vessel stands at the left edge. Palm fronds and a bamboo post frame the scene.2009-09-26Outdoor ritual on dry earth beside a thin wooden pole. A older man with shaved head and white tripundra markings, wearing an orange-saffron robe with maroon border and a rudraksha-style beaded necklace, sits with palms pressed together in prayer, with smoke rising near him. Facing him, a young man in white with a yellow shawl holds a brass plate with a bell and flowers. Beside him, another man in white with a yellow shawl holds a brass tray of small lamps and offerings. At left, a man in white with a yellow shawl kneels over a brass puja tray holding a kalasha-like vessel, flowers and incense sticks on a woven mat. Three other figures in white are partly visible at right.2009-09-25Outdoor ritual photograph under a banana-leaf canopy on bare earth. A man in an orange saffron cloth with a red turban and a beaded mala sits on a mat, seated centrally among several young men in white dhotis with yellow shawls. Brass trays hold flowers, bowls of offerings, and small brass cups; one young man holds a brass lamp. Another man stands at left in white, partly cropped, with bangles visible. Marigold and red flower petals sit on the trays. The setting suggests a puja or homa with offerings.2009-09-25Outdoor ritual scene on bare ground under a banana-leaf canopy. A seated figure in saffron-orange robes, with a gold necklace and a shaved head marked with white tilak, sits on a striped mat facing a brass vessel. Four men in white dhotis with yellow shawls surround him: one on the left holds a brass vessel and pours liquid, another on the right holds a brass plate of flowers and marigold petals, and a man on the far right carries a large brass tray. Behind them is a decorated altar with orange and red cloth, a kalasha, fruit and offerings, and a banana tree. A tiered shrine and a fan are visible in the background. The image shows an abhishekam-style puja in progress.2009-09-25September 25 20092009-09-25 +1 copiesA photograph of an outdoor ritual at a dirt-floored open-air site under a yellow canopy. In the foreground a young man in white clothes and a yellow shawl holds a silver bowl of flower petals. Centre, a shaved-headed man in an orange saffron robe with a rudraksha mala and a tilak on his forehead sits with palms pressed together in namaskar. Around him, men in white dresses and yellow shawls kneel, one holding a tray of small bowls and another a tray with a silver vessel and lamps. Banana leaves, brass vessels and a green plant are visible behind them. The swami in saffron has no distinctive a person cues strong enough to confirm identity, so he is described by role.2009-09-26