The main activity, the reason why we have all gathered here in the first place, the burning of the man, takes place at sunset. Early in the afternoon, organizers of the event take a magnifying glass and use the desert sun to start a bonfire. It is with this flame that people light their torches and ignite the man. The crowd cheers as the first sparks fly. After the man has finally fallen to the ground, the night truely begins.
Entire camps go up in flames.
All the hard work people put into their art burned to ashes. Yes, even network television sent reporters to the desert. There were camera men and helicopters documenting the event. Even the corporate scum want to see Burning Man live despite the fact that a major ideology of the event is to create a temporary community that is independent from the corporate world. Burning Man is about participating, not consuming.