Hearth

• Fire pujas occur outdoors. A hearth must be built in a safe place and includes a throne for the presider. There needs to be a wall that can protect the presider from the flames and act as a support for his arms or tools to rest to prevent fatigue. The fire is built over a flat hearth surface that arises out of the deity's mandala. Paint the hearth surface so that the mandala appears as the source of the flames. The hearth surface could also be prepared with sand instead of paint.
  
  

Implements

• All participants keep a vajra, bell and damaru for the puja. The vajra is a ritual implement that has profound symbolism regarding the enlightened mind; the bell represents the true nature of phenomena. The damaru is a drum that is played and represents the burning of the fire. The presider also has two ladles to move the substances into the hearth for burning.
  
  

Substances

• Several offerings are made during the puja. The ritual demands four cloths that are either white for peace, yellow for increase or a combination of the two colors. Other offerings include three different kinds of substances in butter; ritual cakes, which are white or yellow; and sticks of fresh wood, which should be 12 finger-widths long. They should be cut from the tips of the branches, and should be fresh, green and have their bark intact. The sticks should be straight, free of holes and of equal size. Honey and butter is applied to the tips. Also offered are sesame seeds, unhusked rice and barley, white mustard seeds that are husked and coarse, lentils and wheat.
  
  

Clothing

• Participants should dress in comfortable and warm clothing. More important is the condition of the clothes. Clothing should be clean and preferably white or yellow. The colors are symbolic of peace and increase. The participants should also be very clean; cleanliness is important as this is a purification ritual.