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Outdoor 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.

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Outdoor 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 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 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 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 at a fire pit in a wooded camp setting, with a small brick-lined homa fire burning at the bottom of the frame. A long-haired man in a cream and gold-bordered dhoti and shawl sits cross-legged before the fire with his palms pressed together, apparently poised over the flames. A woman in a cream shawl kneels at the left beside a tray of fruit, flowers and offerings. Behind them, a man in a black jacket holds a red and gold ceremonial umbrella, and a man in white kurta and black shawl stands with hands folded. A woman in blue head covering stands at right beside a red and gold umbrella, and a tall brass oil lamp stands near the fire. A conical brass kalasha sits on a white table draped with colourful garlands on the right. Three people are visible in the foreground group, plus a woman in a blue jacket at left, for a total of about six people.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 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 at a snowy camp with a brick-lined homa fire pit in front, flames rising from burning wood and offerings on plates of flowers and fruit. A long-haired man in a cream and gold-bordered kurta sits centrally with hands pressed together, seated on a cushion. A woman in a white and gold-bordered shawl kneels at left beside the fire. Standing behind, a man in a black leather jacket and white kurta holds a red and gold ornate umbrella, while a man in white with a dark shawl holds a brass oil lamp stand. A person in a light blue headwrap and brown jacket holds a yellow and red umbrella at right. Brass lamps, a garlanded kalasha-like vessel and a shrine with marigold garlands are on a white-draped table nearby. Four to six people are visible.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.2006-04-01A 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 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.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.2006-04-01