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Outdoor fire ritual at a snowy camp in Idyllwild, California. A long-haired man in a cream embroidered sherwani and white dhoti sits on a low seat behind a square brick fire pit lined with yellow flowers, holding a metal ladle over burning embers. Beside him a woman in white with gold border kneels with palms pressed together. Behind them a large ornate red, orange and purple parasol-canopy is held up by a man in white with a dark shawl, and a man in a black jacket and white dhoti holds a long staff. Brass oil lamps, coconuts, a plate of marigolds and bananas, bundled sticks and bottles sit on a blue tarp in the foreground. White-clad devotees stand and sit around the ritual space. This appears to be a homa fire ritual.

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Outdoor ritual at a mountain camp with snow on the ground and wooden cabins behind. A long-haired man in a cream and gold silk robe and white shawl sits on a low seat and holds a small lit oil lamp over a fire pit with straw and wooden sticks. Around him, men and women in white kurtas and dhotis stand holding large ornate umbrellas with red and orange fabric, orange flags and brass ritual lamps. A woman in a cream sari kneels nearby beside brass offering trays with flowers, fruit and small bowls. Garlands of marigolds and a copper kalasha with red and white cloth sit at the right. Several onlookers in casual clothes stand in the background.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual at a wooded camp in winter, with snow patches visible. A long-haired man in a cream and gold silk garment and white dhoti sits in front of a brick fire pit where a flame burns, raising one hand in a gesture. A woman in white with a gold-bordered shawl kneels at left holding a brass dish. Behind him stand men in white kurtas and a man in a red shawl holding a large multicoloured parasol with fringed tassels and bird motifs. A tall brass oil lamp with a lit flame stands at right beside a brass bell and offerings of marigolds and fruit. Several onlookers in jackets watch nearby. Swamiji appearance is probable for the seated central figure: long swept-back hair and a gold-bordered cream garment, with the sitter's ritual seat and the parasol framing him as the central officiant. Visible rituals appear to be a homa at the fire pit with a brass lamp and offerings.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual at a wooded camp with snow patches. A long-haired man in a cream and gold silk dhoti and shawl sits on a low seat, holding a small brass lamp with a flame over a square brick fire pit lined with yellow-marigold garlands and filled with wood sticks. Around him, several people in white garments stand and kneel: a man in white with a gold-bordered wrap holds a tall ornate umbrella, another man in black jacket and white dhoti holds a second umbrella, and a man in white with a black shawl and pendant stands nearby. A woman in cream sari kneels at left arranging offerings on a tray of coconut, flowers, grains and wood. Brass lamps and vessels stand around. Red and orange ceremonial umbrellas with fringe and a rope of colourful flowers appear at right. A fire ritual.2006-04-01Outdoor ritual in a wooded camp setting with snow patches. A woman in white garments with gold borders sits with palms pressed together in prayer behind a brick fire pit (homa kunda) holding wood and flowers. A kneeling woman in white and gold-bordered cream dress offers a plate of flowers and rice beside the pit. Several people stand behind holding ornate decorated umbrellas with orange, red and white fabric and floral patterns, and brass oil lamps and kalashas are placed around the platform. Standing attendants in white and dark jackets watch, one man wearing a rudraksha-style mala. Coconuts, bananas and bowls of offerings sit on the ground in front.2006-04-01Outdoor ritual at a snowy mountain camp. A woman in white and gold-bordered garments sits on a low seat holding a brass lamp with a flame, beside a fire-pit tray of offerings, fruit and flowers. Several people in white stand holding tall ceremonial parasols with red, orange and yellow fringes and floral patterns. A man in a dark jacket and dark shawl stands at center, and a man in white with a black shawl holds a long staff. A brass lamp stand and brass vessels sit on a platform; a woman in a light blue headscarf stands at right. Patches of snow and wooden cabins are visible behind.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual in snowy mountain camp. A central figure with long dark hair wears a cream and gold embroidered garment and sits on a wooden seat, hands extended over a square fire pit with kindling, flowers and oranges set around it. A woman in white with a sheer white shawl kneels at left holding a brass plate of yellow flowers, and a man in dark clothes crouches beside her. Standing devotees in white and dark jackets hold tall brass lamps and ceremonial ornate red-and-gold umbrella-like parasols. A brass oil lamp stands at right beside a copper-coloured deity murti draped with red cloth and a garland. Snow and wooden cabins are visible behind.2006-04-01Outdoor homa at a brick fire pit in a snowy pine setting. A long-haired man in white and cream robes with gold trim sits cross-legged on a chair, hands cupped over the flames. Beside him, a woman in cream shawl kneels with offerings. Standing figures in white kurta-style clothing hold large red, orange and yellow decorated parasols, one holding a ceremonial lamp. Brass lamps, a bowl, a skull-like cup, wood sticks and marigold petals lie on trays. A woman in a blue headscarf stands at right beside a table with garlands and a small decorated pyramid-shaped object. Snow lies on the ground behind them.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual at a snowy forest camp. A long-haired man in a cream embroidered kurta and white dhoti sits cross-legged behind a brick fire pit lined with marigold-yellow flowers, feeding offerings into a small fire while raising one hand. Near him a woman in a white shawl kneels beside silver bowls and yellow flowers, and a man in dark jacket and white dhoti holds a long red-and-orange ceremonial umbrella. A bearded man in a red fleece and gold-bordered red shawl stands holding a long staff. Brass oil lamps and a hand bell rest on the ground, and several people in white and in colourful umbrellas and fabric stand nearby. The scene looks like a homa or yagna with a fire pit, not a crowd event.2006-04-01Outdoor ritual homa at a mountain camp with snow on the ground behind. A long-haired man in a cream silk kurta and white dhoti sits cross-legged at a brick-bordered fire pit, holding a brass vessel over the flames. Beside him a woman in a cream sari with white shawl sits and tends offerings, with small bowls of fruit, flowers and oil lamps. Standing around, men in white kurtas and dhotis and a woman in a blue shawl hold orange and gold ceremonial umbrellas on poles. A tall brass lamp stands at right beside a white-draped table with flower garlands and a conch-shaped object. The whole scene is a homa performed with ceremonial parasols and garlanded offerings.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual at a forested camp with snow on the ground. A long-haired man in cream and gold-bordered white robes sits on a wooden chair before a brick fire pit with burning wood, holding a ladle-like vessel over the flames. A man in a black jacket and white dhoti holds a large ornate red, orange and gold parasol overhead. Behind them a man in a red shawl and white kurta holds a hand to his mouth, and a man in a dark jacket and white pants stands beside a tall brass lamp stand. A woman in white sari with gold border sits at left beside brass plates of flowers and offerings, and a woman in a light blue jacket watches from the back left. Brass kalasha vessels and lamps are arranged on the ground. Photographed as a homa-style fire offering.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual under snowy pine trees at a camp. A long-haired man in a cream and gold brocade garment sits on a low seat before a small fire pit, holding a ghee lamp or ritual item and dropping offerings into the flames. A woman in a cream sari with gold border sits at the lower left, tending items on a tray. Behind them, several standing men in white kurtas and dark jackets hold ornate red, orange and yellow umbrellas, and brass oil lamps and a kalasha-like vessel stand on a table with a flower garland. Melting snow is visible on the ground and benches. The man in the center has long swept-back hair and gold-trimmed clothing, which matches the page's identification with appearance cues, so this is a probable Swamiji in a homa setting.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual at a forest camp. A central figure with long dark hair wears a cream and gold brocade top with a white dhoti, seated cross-legged before a brick fire pit with a burning fire and offerings, hands raised in gesture. Behind him stand several people: one in a black jacket holding a red and gold umbrella-style canopy, one in white with hands folded in prayer, one in a rust-red jacket and orange shawl with palms together, and one in a brown jacket and white clothes beside a brass oil lamp. A woman in a white and gold sari sits at left beside a plate of yellow flowers and wood. A brass kalasha stands at right near a deity murti draped in red and multicolored garlands, and an orange flag is raised at the right edge.2006-04-01