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Nithyanandapedia
August 31 2017

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A smoky ritual scene with a wooden platform covered in cow dung cakes or logs smouldering under a heavy cloud of white smoke. Two tall polished silver oil lamps with burning flames stand in front of the platform, and a coconut wrapped in an orange cloth with green leaves sits on a silver plate at the lower left. Floor is decorated with white powder lines and scattered flower petals. Blurred figures in orange and red clothing are visible at the top edge, with partial glimpse of a rudraksha-style arm adornment.2017-08-31 +2 copiesAugust 31 20172017-08-31 +1 copiesJanuary 11 20142014-01-11January 07th 20152015-01-07 +1 copiesA photograph of a ritual in progress: thick white smoke rises from a rectangular wooden platform stacked with dark cowdung cakes, dusted with white powder and sprinkled with red petals. Two polished silver oil lamps with burning flames stand in the foreground at the lower left. Behind the platform, two people in saffron and orange-red clothing are partly visible at the top corners, one with long dark hair. The scene depicts the purifying smoke step of preparing an aushada (Pudamgaatal). No one's face is clearly visible, so the a person candidate is uncertain.2017-08-31January 04 20152015-01-04A square brick homa fire pit burns with bright orange flames on a low platform, its edges marked with white ritual lines. Behind it stands a gold-trimmed altar or peetha draped with white garlands and yellow-and-maroon flower arrangements around metal vessels. A gold lidded vessel sits at the left, and brass and steel pots, ladles and offering bowls surround the fire on the right, with a pan of dried stalks. A cloth backdrop hangs behind. No people are visible.2012-01-08March 15 20202020-03-15 +2 copiesSeptember 17 20172017-09-17 +1 copiesA photograph of a homa fire ceremony in a temple hall at night. A fire burns in a large square golden fire pit with patterned tiles, sending up smoke. A man in an orange-red turban, orange-red shawl, rudraksha mala and ceremonial gold necklace kneels on the right holding an open book and reading. Oil lamps stand beside the pit and marigold petals are scattered on a mat. Behind, several people in white clothes sit on mats, some near a drum. The figure matches the presentation of a person through the turban, orange robes and rudraksha beads, but this is an appearance-based label only, and he is described here as a priest leading the fire ritual.2015-11-18A close photograph of a homa fire pit built of stacked red-brick blocks dusted with white powder and marked with red kumkum and coloured patterns. A bright flame rises from the centre, and a hand in the upper right, wearing a bangle, pours a liquid from a long golden ladle into the fire. A large polished brass or silver bowl sits on the right, a small metal kalasha-style pot lies in front, and blurred brass oil lamps frame the foreground. No people are fully visible beyond the hand.2015-07-09 +3 copiesA fire ritual at a brick homa altar. A flame rises from a stack of yellow bricks dusted with white ash, with marigold petals and green leaves scattered on top. A person in a white garment with a gold border pours or throws grains from a silver bowl with a long-handled ladle, grains flying through the air. Silver vessels, a silver kalasha-style pot, a silver spouted ladle and small cups sit in front of the altar. A red wall and a carved wooden door are behind. A person in white dhoti stands at the right edge and a bare arm with a red thread and bangles is visible at left. No swami is visible.2015-11-28