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A photograph of an outdoor ritual at a wooded camp. A seated figure in a cream and gold kurta with a white shawl sits before a square fire pit with burning wood, pressing both palms to the head. A seated woman in a white sari with gold border holds a brass bowl beside the fire. Standing behind is a man in a dark jacket and white dhoti holding a large ornate umbrella with red, orange and yellow fringed embroidery. Beside him stands a figure in a dark hooded top and white garment with a rudraksha-style necklace, and an older man in a red top and orange-red shawl holds a palm-leaf fan. Two ceremonial parasol-like canopies with white bird motifs, a brass oil lamp and brass bells sit on a table in the background, and a woman in a light blue jacket stands at left.

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Outdoor 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 ritual photo at a wooded camp in winter, with patchy snow and pine trees. A central figure in white robes with a gold-edged shawl sits cross-legged before a brick fire pit with a small flame, while a person pours or holds a vessel over the figure's head. Standing around are a man in a dark jacket holding a ceremonial parasol, a person in a red robe and red shawl with a green-patterned cloth holding a staff-like object, and a person in a brown jacket beside a tall brass lamp. Attendants in white and a woman in a blue jacket and a white-draped figure with a brass plate sit nearby, with offerings of fruit, flowers and marigolds on the table and ground. Decorated ceremonial parasols with bird motifs and fringed canopies frame the scene.2006-04-01Outdoor ritual at a wooded camp in winter, with snow on the ground and benches behind. A central seated man with long dark hair wears a cream-coloured kurta and white shawl and makes gestures with both hands over a small brick fire pit where a flame burns. Beside him a woman in white sari with gold border holds a brass plate, and a seated woman in white with a head covering holds offerings. Standing attendants hold a large ornate embroidered umbrella and a tall brass lamp stand with a lit oil lamp; one man wears a dark jacket, another a red shawl and dark cap, and a hooded person in white stands behind. Brass bowls and flowers sit near the fire, and a blue tarp lies on the ground. A fire ritual with offerings. Several people are visible.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 at a forest camp in winter, with snow on the ground and tall pines behind. A long-haired man seated on a low wooden seat in white and cream robes, hands pressed together at his face, sits before a small fire pit with a brick-framed base, with a brass bowl of offerings nearby. A woman in a white sari with a veil sits at left beside the fire. Standing behind them, a man in a dark jacket holds a large multicoloured canopy umbrella, and a man in a red shawl and brown jacket holds a tall brass oil lamp with a flame. Others in blue hooded jackets and white clothes stand around, and a banner-like red flag and orange and yellow ceremonial umbrellas with white bird emblems are visible at right. Garlands and a small decorated kalasha sit on a white table.2006-04-01Outdoor photograph of a homa or fire ritual at a forest camp. A man with long dark hair, wearing a cream silk-trimmed kurta and white shawl, sits cross-legged before a brick fire pit with burning wood and offerings, gesturing over the flames. A woman in a white sari sits to the left beside baskets of flowers and wood. Several people behind hold large embroidered umbrellas with orange, red and multicoloured fringe; one man in a red shawl and white clothes holds an umbrella, and a standing brass oil lamp rises at right. Bowls of fruit and marigold petals lie around the pit. Trees and snow-dusted ground are in the background.2006-04-01Outdoor ritual at a forest camp with snow patches, where a seated man with long dark hair in cream silk clothing and a white shawl sits before a square brick fire pit with a burning homa fire and a brass bowl of offerings. Behind him, a man in a black jacket holds a large ornate umbrella with red, orange and multicoloured fringe over the seated figure. A man in a rust-red shawl and white dhoti holds a long stick and stands near brass oil lamps; a woman in white sari with gold border kneels at left holding a brass plate. Brass lamps, flower garlands and fruit sit on a table. Several other people in hooded jackets and white clothing stand around, and a decorated palanquin with red and orange embroidered panels is visible at right. a person: the seated man has long swept-back hair and a distinctive cream silk outfit with ceremonial gold trim, presiding over the homa.2006-04-01Outdoor ritual at a wooded camp with snow on the ground. A seated figure with long dark hair, wearing a cream and gold-bordered shawl over white clothes, sits on a wooden seat with palms pressed together before a small fire pit with a flame. Behind and to the left, two attendants hold ornate multicolored umbrellas with fringed tassels. A standing man in a black leather jacket and white dhoti-style garment holds one umbrella. A bald man in a red shawl and white kurta holds his hands together, and a man in a brown jacket holds a brass lamp stand. A woman in a dark head covering and cream clothing holds a plate of flower petals. Brass lamps, a kalasha-like vessel, a plate of offerings, flower garlands and a decorated red and gold parasol stand on a white table. Matching shawls and a saffron flag are visible at the right. Swamiji (probable): the seated figure has long swept-back hair and a gold-bordered shawl, with an attendant-style ritual setting, so the identity is an appearance-based candidate only.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 in a wooded mountain camp under grey skies. A long-haired figure in a cream and gold-bordered white shawl and dhoti sits on a wooden chair before a brick fire pit with burning wood, raising both palms toward the flames. A woman in a dark shawl kneels at left beside a silver tray and offerings. Behind, several men in white kurtas and dark jackets stand; one at right wears a red robe, red headwear and an orange-red shawl with hands pressed together. Several brass oil lamps and a brass kalasha-style vessel stand on a table, and two large embroidered umbrellas with orange, red and white tassels and bird motifs shelter the scene.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual on a snowy forest clearing. A long-haired man in white kurta and a cream shawl sits on a wooden seat while two men in white and a man in a dark jacket hold up a colourful ceremonial umbrella over him. A woman in a cream sari sits at left beside a brass plate of offerings. A brass oil lamp stands at right and a small square fire pit with burning wood lies in front of the seated man, who appears to receive a blessing or abhishekam. Another man in a red shawl and a woman in a light blue coat stand nearby. Snow lies on the ground behind them and tall pines rise in the background. a person is seated in the centre, identified by long hair and white ritual attire, though the cues are modest.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.2006-04-01