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Outdoor fire ritual under tall pine trees at a camp setting. A central figure with long dark hair sits on a wooden chair in a cream and gold-bordered white garment, hands pressed together in prayer before a brick fire pit with burning wood and a bowl of offerings. Behind, a man in a dark jacket and white dhoti holds a large multicoloured parasol with tassels, and a second man in a red shawl and white dhoti holds a long-handled item beside a decorated parasol. A woman in a white sari with gold border sits to the left, holding a brass plate; flower petals, fruit and brass lamps stand nearby, with a tall brass oil lamp at right and tents behind. Several other people in casual winter clothing stand around the edges.

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Outdoor fire ritual in a snowy forest clearing. A figure with long dark hair wears a cream and gold-bordered kurta with white dhoti, seated before a brick homa pit filled with burning embers and marigold-like flowers, pouring offerings with a ladle. Behind him, a standing man in red shawl and brown knit cap holds a long wooden stick, and another man in white holds a ceremonial umbrella. A woman in white sari sits to the left with a brass bowl, and a standing woman in a light blue hooded jacket watches. Brass oil lamps and a kalasha-like brass vessel stand nearby, under a decorated black umbrella with coloured fringe, with fallen snow on the ground. Homa ritual with offerings, Idyllwild, California.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual at a snowy camp in winter. A long-haired man in cream and gold-bordered white dhoti and shawl sits on a low seat at the centre, hands pressed to his chest with eyes closed, behind a square brick fire pit with flames and a ladle of offering. A woman in a white sari with gold border kneels at left holding a plate of flowers and fruit. Behind them stand men in white kurta-style clothes and a man in a red shawl holding a long stick, along with a man in dark jacket holding a multicoloured fringed umbrella canopy. Brass oil lamp stands, a brass bell and a kalasha-like pot sit near the fire, and snow lies on the ground nearby.2006-04-01A photograph of an outdoor fire ritual in a snowy pine woodland. A man with long dark hair, dressed in a cream embroidered jacket over white dhoti-style garments, sits cross-legged before a brick-lined fire pit with burning wood, his hands held over the flames. Beside him a woman in white with a white shawl sits on the ground near brass bowls of flowers and fruit. Standing behind, a man in a black jacket and another in a white kurta hold a multicolored striped parasol overhead, and a man in a red-orange shawl over white clothes holds a long wooden staff. A tall brass oil lamp stands at right, and a woman in a light blue jacket stands at left. Ornamental red and orange umbrella-like canopies and a black floral umbrella appear in the background.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual (homa) at a winter camp with snow patches and pine trees. A man in a white robe with long dark hair sits on a low seat before a square fire pit containing burning wood and offerings, his palms pressed together. Behind him a standing man in a black jacket holds a large ornate red, orange and gold umbrella-canopy. To the right, a man with a beard wears a red top, red-and-gold shawl and white trousers, holding ritual items beside a tall brass oil lamp (deepam). A woman in a blue hooded jacket holds a red-and-gold ceremonial pot, and another woman in white sits to the left beside brass bowls and a small child. Several other people in blue and white stand in the background. Offerings include a small brass bell, plates of food and marigold-like flowers on a patterned cloth. The visible physical people number about ten.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual in a wooded camp setting under overcast skies. A long-haired man in a cream silk robe with gold border sits before a square brick fire pit with flames, feeding offerings from a brass bowl with both hands, with a microphone clipped to his clothing. Two attendants in white kurta-pajama hold ornate multicoloured umbrellas with red fringes and decorated canopy panels above him; the attendant on the right wears a red shawl and dark knitted cap. A seated woman in a white sari with gold border sits to the left beside a brass plate, and a brass oil lamp stands at right with a bell and flower offerings on the ground. Shelter tents and a table with brass ritual vessels appear behind. The man's appearance does not clearly establish his identity, so he is described by role as the officiant of a homa.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual in a wooded mountain setting with snow on the ground. A long-haired man in a cream and gold-bordered white kurta and white dhoti sits cross-legged behind a small brick fire pit with burning wood and offerings, gesturing over it. A woman in white with a white shawl sits beside him holding a brass bowl, with fruit and offerings on a blue tarp. Standing behind are men in white kurtas and dark jackets; one holds a long brass aarti lamp stand and another a brass oil lamp. A large red, orange and black umbrella with tasselled fringe and a decorated ceremonial parasol shade the group, and a hooded woman in a light blue jacket stands at left. The long-haired seated man has distinctive long swept hair and cream ceremonial dress, so the probable Swamiji cue applies and he is presented as the ritual leader.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual in a forest clearing. A long-haired man in cream and gold silk sits cross-legged before a square brick fire pit with burning embers, gesturing with both hands. A woman in a white veil with gold border kneels to his left beside brass bowls of flowers and wood. Behind him a man in a dark jacket and white dhoti holds a large red, orange and multicoloured canopy umbrella, and standing devotees in red and maroon jackets with gold-bordered shawls and white dhotis stand nearby; a tall brass lamp stand and orange ceremonial parasol are at right. Snow and pine trees sit in the background. The man in cream and gold is visibly distinctive by long swept hair and ceremonial attire, so this is a person presence in a homa; the other people are devotees and attendants.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual among pine trees. A long-haired man in a cream and gold-bordered white dhoti sits on a low seat with his palms pressed together, eyes closed, a red bindi on his forehead. In front of him a small brick fire pit burns with offerings, a brass vessel and a bell sit nearby, and tall brass lamps stand to the side. Behind him a man in a black jacket and white dhoti holds a decorated umbrella, and a man in a red jacket with a gold-and-red shawl stands with hands folded. Other figures in white and maroon hold ceremonial umbrellas and a saffron flag, and a woman in white kneels at left with a tray. Colourful garlands hang on a table at right.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual in a wooded camp setting with snow on the ground. A woman with long dark hair, wearing a cream embroidered jacket over white garments with gold borders, sits cross-legged before a fire pit and gestures over the flames. Beside her, a woman in white draped in a white head covering holds a brass bowl. A man in a dark jacket and white clothes holds a red-and-orange canopy pole above the scene, and another man in a red shawl with gold borders holds a long stick. Brass lamps, a brass vessel, fruit, and an umbrella sit nearby, and a decorated canopy with tassels shelters the area. A homa is visible, with ash and burning wood in a tiled fire pit.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.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual at a forest camp. A long-haired man in a cream and gold robe sits with palms pressed together in prayer before a square brick fire pit where a small fire burns with a metal bowl and ladle beside it. Around him stand attendants in white dhotis and a man in a red shawl with gold border, holding ornate red and orange canopy umbrellas. A woman in a cream sari with black head covering kneels at left holding a silver tray. Brass oil lamps and a kalasha-like vessel stand on the right, with flower petals on the brick.2006-04-01A photograph of an outdoor fire ritual. A man with long dark hair, dressed in a cream and gold embroidered kurta and white dhoti, sits on a chair before a brick fire pit with burning wood and a brass bowl of offerings. A woman in a white sari with gold border kneels at left holding a brass plate. Behind him, a man in a dark jacket holds a large multicoloured umbrella canopy, while a man in a red jacket with a gold-striped shawl and a person in white and black stand nearby. A tall brass lamp stand and a bell sit at right, with a bright ceremonial umbrella and other attendants in white.2006-04-01