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Outdoor photograph of a ritual gathering in a wooded clearing with tall pines and patches of snow. On the left, a red and orange canopy shelters a table draped in white cloth, set with brass vessels, a lamp and a metal tray, with a blue tarp on the ground beneath. Several people in white clothes and one in a white hooded sweatshirt stand around it, and a woman in a light beige outfit walks past carrying a long pole with a colourful cloth banner. Behind them, a large audience sits in rows along a curved low wall, many wearing bright saris, shawls and jackets, while others stand near a white tent-like structure. A small flag is visible on the right.

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Outdoor ritual in a pine forest clearing at a camp, with sandy ground and a low red-brown stone border. A tall red and gold banner with fringe stands on the left beside a blue tarp. Under a white canopy with a red and gold fringed valance, a seated figure in white sits before a white-draped altar decorated with marigold garlands, brass lamps and ritual vessels. Several people in white kurta-style clothing stand or kneel near the altar, and a man in a white hooded top stands at left. In the foreground, a row of seated spectators in winter jackets, including one in a red hooded top and another in a light blue hood, watch the proceedings. A video camera on a tripod and a small amplifier sit at right.2006-04-01Outdoor photo of a ceremony in a wooded amphitheatre with snow on the tiers and tall evergreen trees behind. A crowd of seated devotees in the foreground wears hooded jackets, shawls and head coverings in red, pink, white, purple and orange. On the sand stage, a man in white robes with a shawl stands with hands folded beside a red and gold decorated canopy, while others in white stand and sit near a low brick fire pit and brass vessels. Several umbrellas shelter the stage. No individual can be confidently identified from appearance, so no a person candidate is marked as present.2006-04-01Outdoor photograph of a gathering in a wooded clearing, with a large crowd of roughly forty people seated on the dirt and snow patches in front of a ceremonial stage. A brick fire pit lined with tiles holds kindling and a small brass vessel, with a large brass oil lamp with ornate figurative stem in the foreground beside a red and black fringed canopy. A young man in cream and white ceremonial dress sits near the fire pit, with another attendant behind him. Many attendees wear winter coats, shawls, woollen caps and hats, while some women wear saris in red, yellow and blue. Tall pine trees and a portable floodlight on a red stand surround the scene.2006-04-01Outdoor ritual at a pine-forest camp with snow patches. A long-haired man in cream and white robes with a golden-brown shawl sits on a wooden seat before a small brick fire pit with burning wood and offerings. Beside him a man in a white dhoti and orange-brown turban holds a brass lamp. Nearby a deity murti stands on a white-draped table, decorated with multicoloured garlands. Standing attendants include a man in a dark jacket holding a tall umbrella with fringed red and multicoloured trim, a woman in a blue top, and a young man in a dark jacket. Brass oil lamps, brass trays, a red-and-yellow canopy with the word Dhyanapeetam, and orange flags frame the scene.2006-04-01Outdoor ritual homa at a snowy mountain camp. A central figure with long dark hair, wearing a cream and gold-trimmed white garment, sits with palms pressed together before a square fire pit where flames rise from wood. Behind him a man in a black jacket and white dhoti holds a large ornate red-and-gold umbrella, and a man in a brown jacket and red shawl, with a brown cap, stands with hands folded. Nearby a woman in white with a gold-edged shawl sits holding a bowl, and a man in a blue hooded top holds an orange flag. Tall brass lamps, a brass kalasha-style vessel, floral garlands and a small decorated vessel sit on a white-draped table. Snow is on the ground and trees stand behind.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual in a snowy pine forest under overcast skies. A long-haired man in a cream-gold silk garment with white dhoti sits cross-legged before a square fire pit with burning wood and offerings, pouring ghee or offering with a ladle held in his hands. Beside him a woman in white sari with golden border sits with a brass bowl. Standing behind, a man in a black jacket and white dhoti holds a multicoloured ceremonial parasol with red, orange and green fringes, while a man in a red shawl with gold border and white clothes holds a tall brass oil lamp (deepa) burning. A woman in a light blue jacket and a person in a hooded jacket stand nearby, a grey umbrella shelters the scene, and smoke rises from the fire.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual in a snowy forest clearing. A long-haired figure in a cream-white robe with gold trim sits cross-legged before a square fire pit, palms pressed together in prayer, with ash and flower offerings and a brass bowl nearby. Behind him, standing attendants in white dhotis or kurtas hold up an ornate multicoloured parasol and a tall brass oil lamp, while a man in a red shawl with gold border and a red-brown jacket stands with hands folded. A woman in a white veil sits to the left beside a metal offering dish, and a person in a light-blue hooded jacket holds a red-and-white ceremonial umbrella at right. Patches of snow and a blue tarp lie on the ground, with a white-draped table holding a garland. Mentioned ritual: homa fire with offerings.2006-04-01Outdoor ritual at a winter camp setting with bare pine trees behind. A long-haired figure in a cream and white robe with a gold-bordered shawl kneels at a small brick fire pit, lifting a brass ladle and a bell as flame rises from the pit. Beside them a woman in a white sari with a gold border kneels with hands together. Standing behind, several people in white dhotis and kurtas, one in a rust-red shawl, another in dark jacket, hold up a red and yellow canopy and ornate umbrella poles. Brass oil lamps and a kalasha-like vessel stand at right, with marigold and multicolored garlands on a white table. This appears to be a homa or yagna fire ritual.2006-04-01A photograph of an outdoor ritual in snowy mountain woods. A long-haired figure in white and cream robes sits on a wooden seat before a small fire pit, hands cupped over the flames in a gesture of offering. Beside them, a woman in a white sari-style shawl kneels and holds a silver plate of flowers and offerings. Behind, a standing man in a dark jacket and white dhoti holds a tall red-and-yellow parasol, and a man in a red shawl and white clothes holds a long staff. Brass oil lamps and a brass bell rest on a table, with snow visible in the background and a canopy of embroidered umbrellas with bird motifs framing the scene. Plates of sweets and bowls sit on a blue cloth. Swamiji (probable): the seated figure has long dark hair and wears white and cream robes with gold borders, sitting in an honoured position before the fire.2006-04-01Outdoor ritual in snowy pine woods. A long-haired man in a cream and gold-bordered dhoti sits on a blue cloth and performs an aarti-style offering with a lit lamp and a small bell beside a brass oil lamp, while a woman in cream sits at his left with offering plates of fruit and sweets. Behind him, a standing man in white dhoti and dark jacket holds a brass vessel, and an elderly man in white with a red-brown shawl and a brown knit cap stands near a brass lamp. Umbrellas with floral patterns and colourful fringed canopies shade the scene, and red-and-orange ornamented umbrella-like banners and an orange flag appear at the edges. Onlookers in winter jackets and hooded blue coats stand around, with snow on the ground behind. a person figure with long swept-back hair and a gold-trimmed cream garment is seated at the centre performing the rite; the qualifying cues are his long hair, cream and gold ceremonial clothing and the central seated role.2006-04-01Outdoor ritual at a snowy forest camp. A long-haired man in cream and gold-bordered white robes sits on a low seat with palms pressed together in namaskar, before a fire-pit altar strewn with flowers and offerings. A seated woman in white shawl kneels at left beside brass bowls and fruit. Behind him a standing man in dark jacket and white dhoti holds a multicoloured fringed parasol, and a man in red shawl with gold border stands with hands folded beside a tall brass oil lamp. Other attendants in winter hats and blue hoodies hold embroidered umbrella-like canopies with bird motifs. Pine trees and snow surround the setting.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual (homa) at a snowy forest camp. A long-haired figure in white and cream robes with gold trim sits cross-legged before a small fire pit, holding a ladle of offerings toward the flames, with a brass tray of offerings nearby. Behind him, a man in black leather jacket and white dhoti holds a tall red-and-gold umbrella canopy. Standing to the right, a man in red shawl and white robes holds a ritual bell, beside a brass oil lamp (deepam) with a flame. Other attendants in blue and grey hooded jackets stand around, with snow and bare trees behind. Garlands and a conch-shaped object sit on a table at the right. a person appearance is uncertain from this image.2006-04-01