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Outdoor homa ritual at a camp in winter, with patches of snow on the ground. A seated figure with long dark hair wears a cream embroidered jacket over white garments and leans forward to place sticks on a flaming brick fire pit decorated with yellow flowers. Around them stand devotees in white and cream clothes, one with a dark coat and a gold pendant, and a woman in a light blue headscarf. Brass lamps, a kalasha-style vessel, plates of flowers, fruit and offerings, and garlands with colourful beads surround the fire pit. A tall wooden staff and orange and gold ceremonial cloths are visible. The figure with long hair and cream jacket matches appearance cues for a person, but the face and attire alone are not conclusive.

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A photograph of an outdoor homa or fire ritual in a snowy wooded camp. A long-haired man in a cream embroidered kurta and white dhoti sits cross-legged on a round wooden seat before a square brick fire pit decorated with yellow flowers, lighting kindling with a flame held in a copper vessel. Around him stand men in white kurtas and dark jackets and a woman in a cream sari, one holding a long ceremonial staff. Brass oil lamps, silver and brass pots, bowls of fruit, sticks and plates of flowers lie on the ground. A bright orange-and-red ceremonial banner and a deity murti draped in red and multicoloured garlands appear at the right. Several people visibly stand and sit around the fire.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual at a snowy camp: a man with long dark hair and a cream silk kurta with white dhoti kneels at a brick fire pit lined with yellow-and-pink flowers, pouring from a small brass vessel onto a small flame. A woman in cream sari with a white shawl kneels beside him, tending offerings on a metal plate with coconut, dried sticks, fruit, oil bottles and a small pot. Behind them several men in white kurtas stand with brass lamps and ceremonial umbrellas with red and orange designs. Brass oil lamps, a kalasha-like brass pot and flower garlands sit on a white-draped table at right. Snow lies on the wooden steps behind.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual at a camp in cold, snowy weather. A bearded man with long dark hair, wearing cream and white ceremonial clothes, kneels at a square brick fire pit with a small flame, adding offerings from a metal bowl. Beside him a woman in a white and gold garment and dark shawl sits with a silver plate of wooden sticks and flower petals. Behind them, standing men in white dhotis and orange and red shawls hold orange ceremonial umbrellas, and a tall brass lamp stand stands at the side. A table with white cloth, garlands and a small red-and-gold deity murti or shrine is on the right. The homa is performed among devotees in winter clothing.2006-04-01A photograph of an outdoor homa at a snowy camp. A person with long dark hair, wearing a cream silk top and white dhoti, sits cross-legged before a square brick fire pit where flames rise from wooden sticks. Offerings of flowers, fruit and a steel pot sit nearby. A woman in white sits on the left tending offerings, and white-clad devotees stand behind with ceremonial staffs, brass lamps and a kalasha on a white-draped table to the right, with snow visible in the background. a person cues: long swept-back hair and a golden-hued garment, seated in the central role of performing the fire ritual.2006-04-01A photograph of an outdoor homa at a wooded camp with snow on the ground. A long-haired man in a cream and gold-bordered white garment sits on a wooden seat behind a brick fire pit with burning embers, hands pressed together in prayer. A woman in a cream shawl kneels at the left beside offerings of flowers, fruit, a coconut and bundled sticks. Behind them, standing attendants in white clothing and dark jackets hold red, gold and orange umbrellas and a tall brass lamp stand. A small conical sacred stone with a red cloth and garlands sits at the right, and a flag hangs at the upper right.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual in a snowy wooded campsite. A long-haired man in a cream and gold dhoti-style garment with gold trim sits cross-legged at a brick-lined fire pit, pouring a liquid from a small metal vessel into the flames of a homa. Beside him a woman in white sits on the ground with ritual items. Several people in white kurta-pajama and dark jackets stand behind, one holding a tall brass lamp. Behind them, an ornate red and yellow ceremonial umbrella with bird motifs shades the scene. Brass lamps, kalasha-style vessels, plates of fruit and wood, and a garlanded seat with a red cloth are arranged around the fire. Snow lies on the ground and cabins are visible in the background.2006-04-01An outdoor homa at a wooded camp. A long-haired man in cream and gold-bordered white robes sits on a low wooden seat with his palms cupped over a small brick fire pit where flames burn; a woman in a cream shawl kneels beside him at the fire. Around them stand attendants in white kurtas, a dark jacket and a brown jacket; a woman in a light blue jacket and a woman in a blue head covering hold large decorated umbrellas with red and yellow panels showing white doves. Brass lamps, a brass kalasha and a brass bell sit on a white-draped table, with marigold flower garlands and fruit offerings on banana leaves and trays in front. Patches of snow lie on the ground behind.2006-04-01Outdoor photograph of a fire ritual. A long-haired figure in cream and white robes kneels at a square brick fire pit with a bright flame, adding offerings from a metal bowl. Beside them a woman in white with a dark shawl holds a plate of flowers and petals. Behind, standing devotees in white dhotis and a man in a red shawl hold hands together in prayer, and a brass lamp stand and umbrellas with orange and yellow canopies frame the scene. Garlands in pink, green and white hang on a table at right, and a small brass vessel sits near the pit.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual at a camp setting with pine trees behind. A central fire pit made of red brick with a square hearth holds burning wood and a flame, while a man with long dark hair and a cream silk kurta pours from a ladle into the fire. Beside him a woman in a white sari with gold border sits and tends offerings on trays holding wood, flowers and small vessels. Several people in white kurtas and dhotis stand around, one holding a tall brass lamp stand and another a long pole with an orange and red canopy overhead. On the right stands a table draped in white with colourful flower garlands and a bundled decorative figure. Brass kalashas and lamps sit on the ground nearby, and orange flags are visible. This appears to be a homa or yagna.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual in snowy woodland. A long-haired man in cream and white robes sits on a raised seat at the centre of a brick homa fire pit lined with yellow and orange flowers, hands extended palms-down over the flames, eyes closed. Two ceremonial umbrellas with red, orange and gold fabric and embroidered bird motifs stand above him, held by men and a woman in white clothing. A woman in white kneels at left holding a plate of offerings, and a man in dark jacket crouches beside her. Brass oil lamps, a kalasha-style vessel, coconut, wooden kindling and small bowls surround the pit. Snow lies on the ground behind the wooden structures.2006-04-01Outdoor photo of a fire ritual at a wooded camp. A long-haired man in a cream embroidered kurta and white dhoti sits cross-legged before a small fire pit with a golden-bordered tiled frame, adding offerings to the flames. He is the a person by his long swept-back dark hair and ornate cream attire. Behind him, a man in a black jacket and white dhoti holds a red and gold umbrella, and a man in a red jacket with a gold-fringed shawl stands nearby. A woman in white with a veil kneels at left holding a tray. A tall brass lamp stand and brass vessels sit on a table, with a woman in blue at right beside a red and gold umbrella. Snow lies on the ground.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.2006-04-01