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A photograph of a homa fire ritual outdoors on a damp day. A long-haired man in a cream embroidered kurta with a gold border sits cross-legged before a brick fire pit where flames rise from burning sticks, and he is feeding it with his hand. Behind him, figures in white clothes stand and a red and gold shawl is draped over one person's shoulder. Brass oil lamps, a brass pot, a tray of flowers, coconuts and wooden sticks sit around the pit, with a brass lamp and flower petals placed on the brick edge.

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A 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 homa fire ritual outdoors on a blue tarp. A long-haired person in cream and gold-bordered white dhoti sits cross-legged on a wooden seat before a brick-lined fire pit where flames rise over offerings and a red fruit. This person holds a round brass plate and pours or offers material into the fire with the other hand. Around them, people in white dhotis and kurtas stand, one in a dark jacket, another in red and gold garments. Brass lamps, a brass kalasha-style vessel, a bell, flower garlands in multicoloured strands, and bowls of offerings sit on a table and ground nearby.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual (homa) at a square brick fire pit lined with yellow and orange painted tiles, with ash and burning sticks inside. A person in a cream and gold-bordered kurta and white dhoti sits cross-legged, dropping an offering into the flame with one hand while holding a small brass bowl. To the left, a woman in a white and gold-bordered sari with gold bangles sits beside a bowl of yellow and pink flowers, bundles of wood, and small metal vessels. Behind them, standing participants wear white dhotis and kurtas. A tall brass lamp stand and a small brass oil lamp rest on the ground, and a wide blue tarp covers the floor.2006-04-01A seated man with long, swept-back dark hair and a red tilak on his forehead sits on an ornately carved wooden chair, wearing a cream embroidered kurta with gold trim over white dhoti-style garments, performing a homa at a brick fire pit where a small flame burns on dry sticks and marigold-like flowers sit on the bricks. He holds his hands over the fire. Behind him, standing attendants in white kurtas and a red-robed figure hold a brass bell and a tall brass oil lamp, with brass kalasha vessels visible at left. This appears to be a fire ritual with a brass lamp and bell as ritual objects. The scene is outdoors on dirt ground.2006-04-01A photograph of an outdoor homa fire ritual at a camp setting. A man with long dark swept-back hair, wearing a cream-gold silk kurta and white dhoti with gold borders, sits on a wooden seat and places sticks into a brass bowl of offering while feeding a small fire pit lined with red-and-orange tiles. Around him, several men stand in white dhotis and white kurtas, one wearing a red and gold shawl and another a dark brown jacket. A tall ornate brass lamp stand and a brass bell are on the right, and a plate of sticks and bowls of offerings sit on a blue tarp at left. The probable candidate shows long swept-back hair and ceremonial gold-bordered silk clothing, presiding over the homa.2006-04-01A seated man with long dark hair performs a homa at a fire pit built of bricks and decorated with yellow and white rangoli-style patterns. He wears a cream embroidered silk kurta with gold-bordered white dhoti and a small lapel microphone, and his hands are extended over flames rising from wooden sticks. Brass items sit nearby, including a bell with a handle, a brass kalasha-style vessel, a small silver pot, orange fruits and pink and purple flowers in the foreground. Standing figures in white dhotis and white kurtas are visible at the edges, along with a brass oil lamp and a wooden seat behind him.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 brick-lined fire pit, with flames and burning wood in the centre. A person with long dark curly hair, wearing a cream and gold embroidered top over white dhoti-style clothing, leans over the pit, hands extended toward the fire while dropping flowers into it. Yellow and pink flower petals lie on the bricks around the pit. Nearby on a table are a brass plate of yellow flowers, bowls of fruit and offerings, a pink bottle, a small brass lamp and a brass bell. Other people in white clothing stand behind, including one in a red shawl and one in white kurta, and a brass lamp stand and garlands sit on the right. The scene shows a homa or yagna with offerings.2006-04-01A photograph of an outdoor homa fire ritual on a brick-edged square pit with burning wood and a red apple offering in the ash. A seated person in white garments with a cream-gold border and a long dark loose hair hovers hands over the flames. Another person in white sits to the left beside trays of fruit, a bottle, and a bundle of firewood. Brass oil lamps, a brass bell, a brass kalasha-style stand and a small brass lamp sit nearby, and a standing person in white is at the right edge. Flowers decorate the pit and the ground is covered by a blue tarp. The seated central figure has distinctive long dark hair and white-and-gold clothing, but the appearance is not clear enough to confirm identity.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual at a camp setting with a low brick-built fire pit holding a small flame and kindling, ringed by lit oil lamps and pink flowers on the bricks. A seated figure with long dark wavy hair and a red bindi wears a cream and gold brocade kurta over white dhoti-style cloth, pouring liquid from a copper vessel near the fire. A standing man in white kurta with a dark shawl and a person in a brown fleece hold a tall brass lamp stand with a lit lamp behind the pit, and brass pots and a bell sit on a wooden side table. A partial figure in an orange patterned cloth appears at the edge.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual at a wooded mountain camp under overcast skies. A long-haired man in a cream and gold embroidered kurta with a white shawl sits cross-legged before a brick-lined fire pit, his hands extended over a small flame; a bowl sits near the fire. Behind him stand devotees in white dhotis and orange-red shawls, one holding a large golden oil lamp, and figures under orange and red umbrellas. A woman in a cream and gold sari kneels at left beside offering trays with flowers and fruit. Brass pots and bells rest on tables, and a garlanded kalasha stands at right.2006-04-01A photograph of a homa fire ritual outdoors. A seated figure with long, dark, loose hair wears a cream kurta with gold trim and a cream shawl, feeding offerings into a small square fire pit lined with marigold garlands and flowers. A kneeling woman in white with a white head veil and gold-bordered sari holds a brass tray of yellow flowers beside them. Standing behind are men in white dhotis and a man in a red and gold shawl, and a large brass lamp stand with lit oil lamps is visible at right. A brass bell and a ladle rest near the fire. The scene appears to be a yagna or homa in an open-air setting.2006-04-01