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Photograph of a night-time outdoor fire ritual in an open-sided shed with a brick wall behind. A small fire burns in a shallow pit on sandy ground, with an iron ring or pot over the flames and a metal rod leaning against the pit. Four men in saffron-orange dhoti and shawl stand around the fire, one holding a dark bag and another with rudraksha beads and a saffron wrap. Two men in white shirts and checked lungis stand at the edges, one raising a hand, and a woman in a white sari with yellow border stands at the left. Sparks drift in the air above the fire.

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September 16 20132013-09-16Night photograph of an open-air outdoor fire ritual on a sandy ground beside a block wall. A flame burns in a small brick-lined fire pit with a metal ring, and a long iron rod extends from it. Several men in saffron-orange dhotis with yellow borders stand around the fire; one holds a brass plate with offerings, and one wears a rudraksha mala. A man in a white vest and checked lungi stands at right holding a rope, and a woman in a white sari with a red border watches at far left. Ashes and debris lie on the ground.2013-09-16September 16 20132013-09-16September 16 20132013-09-16A night-time outdoor ritual beside an open fire pit with bright flames burning on ground ash. Four men in saffron-orange dhotis with gold-bordered cloth stand around the fire; the central man holds a small plate of offerings, and another man on the left carries a plate with a rudraksha-style bead necklace. A bare-chested man on the far left wears a long beaded mala. Women in a white sari with a green border and men in checked lungis and white shirts stand at the edges, and a metal fire stand is set on the ground. Concrete block walls and a green cart are in the background. Resembles a homa or fire offering; the appearance-based identity of any a person candidate is uncertain.2013-09-16September 16 20132013-09-16A photograph of a ritual at night under a open-sided shelter: in the foreground a pot-shaped vessel held on a long pole is lifted over a large open fire of bright flames, with a bed of earth and red powder at its base. Several people in the foreground, shown partly cropped, wear white and orange cloth. Behind the fire, a smiling man in an orange-red robe with a patterned sash stands with hands at his sides, and to his right an older bald man in an orange-red dhoti and upper cloth stands with palms pressed together in namaste, a rudraksha-style mala visible at his neck. Several other figures in orange stand in the background among stone walls.2013-09-04September 04 20132013-09-04Night ritual under a corrugated metal roof with a brick wall behind. In the foreground a glowing red-hot clay vessel sits on a dark stone beside an open fire on bare earth. A row of men in white dhotis and white shirts stands behind it, one in an ochre-brown robe with a gold-bordered cloth, another with a rudraksha mala, bare-chested with a white cloth over the shoulder. Men in white and in saffron-orange robes stand nearby, with a few onlookers in the background. A man at right in white holds an object and gestures. The scene suggests a homa or fire offering.2013-09-04July 29 20132013-07-29Night-time outdoor ritual at a brick-walled open yard with a dirt floor. A man in a saffron-orange dhoti with gold borders, bare-chested with long swept-back hair, extends his hand toward a small fire pit of lit oil lamps and offerings. Beside him a shaved-headed priest in orange robes with gold borders stands with palms joined in prayer. Two men in white dhotis and a man in a white shirt tend the fire, one holding a long metal rod and another a wooden stick, while a man in a checked shirt stands at left. A woman in white and gold sari watches at the upper right. Fire pit, sacrificial setup. Five people visible.2013-09-16A night outdoor scene in an open brick-walled yard with a dirt floor, showing a small clay-and-brick structure and a white stone or lump on the ground with red flower petals scattered nearby. Two men in white shirts work at the left: one bends low placing bricks, the other holds long iron rods. Standing in the centre, a bald priest in orange-saffron dhoti with gold borders and a rudraksha-style mala presses his palms together in prayer. To the right, a man with swept-back long hair wears an orange dhoti with gold borders and bare upper body, while another bald man in orange robes and beaded necklace holds a plate of red offerings. The scene suggests a ritual preparation such as a homa fire pit being readied.2013-09-16