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Outdoor fire ritual under tall trees. A long-haired man in a cream silk kurta and white dhoti sits on a wooden chair before a small fire pit with flames, raising his hands in a mudra as he performs the rite. A woman in a white sari with a dark shawl kneels at left beside brass bowls, offerings and a sprig of greenery. Behind him, men in white kurtas and dhotis stand, one in a red shawl with gold border holding a brass oil lamp, and another in a dark jacket with hands folded. Ornate red and orange umbrellas with white bird motifs stand overhead, and a tall brass lamp stands at right beside a blue cloth on the ground. The scene suggests a homa or yagna with offerings to fire, performed during the volunteers' gathering.

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Outdoor photograph of a ritual fire ceremony under a canopy. A figure with long dark hair, wearing a cream kurta and white dhoti with gold borders, sits on a wooden chair before a square fire pit lined with decorated tiles, performing hand gestures over the flames. Nearby, a woman in a white and gold sari sits at left beside metal bowls of offerings, flowers and fruit. Standing behind are men in white kurtas and a man in a black leather jacket, and at right a man in a red shawl and brown jacket holds a ceremonial umbrella, with a tall brass lamp stand in the foreground. Red and yellow umbrellas with bird and floral motifs shade the scene, and a woman in a blue shawl stands at far right. This appears to be a homa with offerings in a fire pit.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual (homa) at a brick fire pit with burning wood, flames and scattered flower petals, under a chilly forested setting with patches of snow. Around him, a man in a black jacket and white dhoti holds a tall decorated umbrella pole, a man in red shawl with gold border stands with hands folded, a woman in a blue hooded shawl stands at right, and a person in a dark headscarf sits at left beside a tray of offerings. Brass lamps, a kalasha-like vessel, brass plates, fruit, cinnamon-like sticks and a white-clothed table holding ritual items sit nearby, with colourful garlands and a bright orange flag visible on the right.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual under a canopy of woodland. A seated figure in a cream-coloured embroidered tunic and white dhoti, with long dark hair and a red bindi, sits behind a rectangular fire pit with flames rising from it; both hands are held over the fire. Beside the pit are brass and steel vessels, a small brass lamp and offerings. Behind, standing devotees include a man in a black leather jacket over white, a man in white with a black cord necklace, and a man in a red shawl with a white dhoti holding a ritual item. A woman in a black head covering and white sari sits at left holding a plate, and a woman in blue wrap stands at right under a red and yellow umbrella decorated with birds. A tall brass lamp stands at right.2006-04-01Outdoor homa ceremony under a red and gold canopy with floral panels. A figure with long dark hair, wearing a cream and white dhoti-style garment with gold borders, sits cross-legged with palms pressed together in prayer before a small fire pit with burning wood and flower offerings. Behind and around them stand several people in white ritual clothes; a man in a black leather jacket stands at left, a man in a red shawl with a gold border holds a long ladle at right, and a young man in a maroon top stands beside a tall brass lamp stand. A woman at lower left in white holds a silver tray. Brass oil lamps, bells, coconuts, flowers and bowls are arranged on tables. a person is seated, visible cues being long swept hair and a cream ritual garment with gold edging.2006-04-01An outdoor fire ritual at a camp setting, with a brick-lined fire pit (homa kund) holding a burning fire at the bottom right. A seated central figure with long dark hair wears a cream-and-gold dhoti-style garment and raises both hands, palms toward the fire. Beside him, a kneeling woman in white with a black head covering tends offerings on a tray. Standing behind are several men in white dhotis, including one in a red shawl with gold border, holding their hands together in prayer, and another in a dark jacket. Ornate orange and red umbrellas with floral borders and bird motifs stand overhead, and brass oil lamps and a kalasha-style brass vessel sit on a table nearby. A grey sky and pine trees appear beyond the white tent.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 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 by a fire pit built of brick, edged with yellow and orange decorative marks, with a small flame and offerings of wood. A long-haired man with a cream-coloured embroidered kurta and white dhoti sits cross-legged on a wooden seat with hands folded at his chest, a probable Swamiji by appearance: long swept-back hair and ornate cream-and-gold clothing. A woman in white with a sheer veil kneels at left holding a plate of flowers and offerings. Behind, a standing man in a dark jacket and white dhoti holds a multicoloured umbrella-style canopy, while a man in a red fleece and red shawl with hands pressed together stands among devotees in white. Brass oil lamps and a kalasha-like vessel stand near the fire, with a grey umbrella overhead and wintry trees in the background. This appears to be a homa with offerings.2006-04-01Outdoor homa at a forest camp under a red and gold ceremonial umbrella with floral embroidery. A seated figure in white and cream robes with long dark hair and a gold-bordered dhoti holds hands together in prayer above a brick fire pit with burning wood and a bowl of offerings. Standing around are a man in a black leather jacket, a man in white kurta with a rudraksha-style pendant, and a man in red jacket with a gold-bordered shawl pressing palms together. A woman in a dark shawl and white sari kneels at left with a metal tray. Brass oil lamps stand nearby on a table and a brass lamp at right. Pine trees and light snow appear behind.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual under a canopy of red and orange umbrellas with floral embroidery in a wooded camp. At center, a long-haired figure in cream and white robes sits on a chair with palms pressed together in prayer above a brick fire pit with a burning fire. Behind him, standing men in white kurtas and a man in a black leather jacket with a pendant watch the rite, and a man in a red shawl and red jacket holds his hands joined. A brass lamp stand with lit oil lamps and a small brass bell sit beside the fire pit. A woman in a dark head wrap and cream dress kneels at left with a plate of offerings. Visible offerings include a tray of items and a steel vessel.2006-04-01Outdoor fire ritual under colourful red-and-gold canopies at a forest camp. A long-haired man in a cream embroidered jacket and white dhoti sits cross-legged at a brick fire pit, eyes closed, hands near a flaming bowl of offerings. Behind him, a man in a black leather jacket and a man in white kurta hold up a parasol-like canopy. On the right, a bearded man in a red fleece and red-gold shawl holds a ceremonial item near a tall brass oil lamp, with a man in white trousers beside him. A brass bell sits on the brick platform, with a silver tray of sticks, fruit and flowers at left. Woman in white sits at the left edge. Pine trees and a cloudy sky are visible.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.2006-04-01