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Outdoor fire ritual in a snowy pine forest under overcast skies. A long-haired man in a cream-gold silk garment with white dhoti sits cross-legged before a square fire pit with burning wood and offerings, pouring ghee or offering with a ladle held in his hands. Beside him a woman in white sari with golden border sits with a brass bowl. Standing behind, a man in a black jacket and white dhoti holds a multicoloured ceremonial parasol with red, orange and green fringes, while a man in a red shawl with gold border and white clothes holds a tall brass oil lamp (deepa) burning. A woman in a light blue jacket and a person in a hooded jacket stand nearby, a grey umbrella shelters the scene, and smoke rises from the fire.

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Outdoor 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.2006-04-01A 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 at a camp with snow patches and pine trees. A seated woman in white clothes with gold borders and a long dark braid bows her head with hands at her hair, while a fire burns in a brick-and-tile homa pit decorated with orange and yellow flowers and marigolds. A bearded man in a red shawl and red top holds a ceremonial implement, and a standing man in a dark jacket and white dhoti holds a pole with a multicoloured fringed canopy above the group. A second woman in white with a gold border kneels at left, holding a brass plate. Brass oil lamps and a bell sit beside the pit, and a woman in a light blue jacket stands behind. Festive colourful umbrellas and canopy poles frame the scene.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 (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 ritual in snowy pine woods. A long-haired man in a cream and gold-bordered dhoti sits on a blue cloth and performs an aarti-style offering with a lit lamp and a small bell beside a brass oil lamp, while a woman in cream sits at his left with offering plates of fruit and sweets. Behind him, a standing man in white dhoti and dark jacket holds a brass vessel, and an elderly man in white with a red-brown shawl and a brown knit cap stands near a brass lamp. Umbrellas with floral patterns and colourful fringed canopies shade the scene, and red-and-orange ornamented umbrella-like banners and an orange flag appear at the edges. Onlookers in winter jackets and hooded blue coats stand around, with snow on the ground behind. a person figure with long swept-back hair and a gold-trimmed cream garment is seated at the centre performing the rite; the qualifying cues are his long hair, cream and gold ceremonial clothing and the central seated role.2006-04-01Outdoor 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 in a snowy forest clearing. A long-haired figure in a cream-white robe with gold trim sits cross-legged before a square fire pit, palms pressed together in prayer, with ash and flower offerings and a brass bowl nearby. Behind him, standing attendants in white dhotis or kurtas hold up an ornate multicoloured parasol and a tall brass oil lamp, while a man in a red shawl with gold border and a red-brown jacket stands with hands folded. A woman in a white veil sits to the left beside a metal offering dish, and a person in a light-blue hooded jacket holds a red-and-white ceremonial umbrella at right. Patches of snow and a blue tarp lie on the ground, with a white-draped table holding a garland. Mentioned ritual: homa fire with offerings.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 ritual photograph in a snowy pine forest. A man in white robes with long dark hair sits cross-legged on a chair before a square brick fire pit holding burning embers, his palms pressed together in prayer, possibly a person given the long dark hair and white ceremonial clothing, though the appearance cues are uncertain. A woman in a white sari with a shawl sits at left holding a brass dish. A man in a dark jacket holds a large multicoloured canopy with ornate floral patterns, and a man in a rust-red shawl and white dhoti holds a long ritual stick. Beside the fire stands a tall brass lamp, and marigold petals and offerings lie around the pit.2006-04-01Outdoors among pine trees in a misty forest clearing, a fire ritual is underway. A man with long dark hair and a cream-colored silk kurta with gold trim sits cross-legged at a low ornamental altar, raising his hands over a small fire of burning logs. Beside him a woman in a white sari with gold border sits holding an offering bowl. Behind them, standing men in white dhotis and orange or red shawls hold ornate multicolored umbrella-like canopies and a tall brass oil lamp. A man in a red jacket holds a long ceremonial staff, and a figure in a blue hooded jacket stands at right. Brass vessels, marigold and flower garlands, and a copper kalasha sit on a white-draped table at right. Some people hold a saffron flag.2006-04-01Outdoor homa at a snowy camp in pine woods. A seated man in white dhoti and a cream shawl with gold border sits before a brick fire pit where a small fire burns; his hands are raised to his head. Around him, standing men in white clothes and a man in a red shawl hold ceremonial items; a woman in a white sari sits to the left beside brass bowls of flowers and wood. A brass lamp stand and a tall red-and-orange canopy with fringe stand behind. Several people in winter jackets are visible at the edges.2006-04-01