Thimithi Festival in Singapore
Devotees walk over burning coals without injury
Festivals are among the most apt times to travel to any popular tourist destination around the world, and Singapore is one such country which boasts a multitude of festivals which draw tourists to the tiny Southeast Asian nation.
The Thimithi Festival – or Fire Walking Festival – is a Hindu celebration usually held in the month of October or November and is certainly among the most bizarre, featuring Hindu devotees walking barefoot over a pit filled with red-hot coal. The festival – which is also celebrated in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and South Africa – is held annually to pay homage to the Goddess Draupadi, the main character in the epic Mahabharata.
Draupadi had to walk barefoot across burning coal to prove her loyalty, fidelity, innocence and sincerity to her husband, with the most difficult part of the ordeal being that she had to do it all without showing any signs of pain. The much-worshipped queen came out of the ordeal completely unscathed without even a burn to speak of. More on history.
Singaporeans hold the Thimithi Festival each year to pay respect to Draupadi’s courage as well as the determination with which she walked upon the coals. The festival sees both Hindu priests and devotees alike demonstrate their fortitude, valour and devotion similarly to Draupadi – by walking upon a 21-foot pit filled with red-hot coal without bearing expression.
Hindus look upon the festival as a test of their purity as it is believed that only impure persons and impurity will be burnt. After completing the walk across the coal-filled pit, the priest and devotees walk through another pit filled with goat milk and finally blemish their feet with turmeric.
The procession in Singapore begins in late evening at the Sri Srinivaa Perumal Temple on Serangoon Road, where devotees of all ages must take ritual baths prior to filing together to follow the priest as he leads a grand procession of people through the city’s streets to Sri Mariamman Temple on South Bridge Road where the fire-walking takes place in the early hours of the morning.
The priest begins the fire walking by walking across the burning pit with a sacred pot filled with water known as the Karagam on his head. He is then followed by the male devotees who are intent on proving their faith and fulfilling their personal promises. The devotees may also include a minority of non-Hindus and non-Indians.
Hindus walking over burning coals
Legend states that if a fire-walker is impure, he or she will burn, thus failing the test. Perhaps the most surprising aspect to onlookers is that most of those who take part in the ordeal, like Draupadi herself, are able to come out of the coal bed without any damage being done.
Thousands of people flock to the temple to watch the proceedings, many of whom to watch friends and relatives. Visitors to the country need to remember that it is held in the grounds of a temple and the dress code must be adhered by not baring the shoulders or knees and leaving shoes outside at the gates.
During the period of Thimithi devotees and drama troupes re-enact scenes from the Mahabharata. A week before the actual day of the fire walking prayers are performed to Periyachi, one of the key deities of the Hindu goddess Mariamman’s entourage. The prayer session is held to request the goddess’s blessing upon those taking part and that no nasty incidents should occur during the festival.
The next event is the symbolic grand marriage ceremony imitating the one conducted between Draupadi and Arjuna. After this is perhaps the most important ritual, with the sacrifice of Hirja being acted out, although unlike when Hirja was sacrificed before the Mahabharata War in order to ensure the Pandavas’ success, the simulated ritual never involves human sacrifice. More on religion.
Two days before the festival, there is a silver chariot procession to commemorate the 18-day war which culminates in the victory of the Pandavas. At this point, Lord Krishna agreed to be the charioteer of Arjuna. In Singapore, they mark this occasion on the Friday and Saturday before Thimithi with a chariot procession around the Bukit and Telok Blangah districts.
The fire pit is readied the night prior to the final day of the festival and kept at red hot temperatures throughout the ritual. Devotees start their ordeal around 04:00 and the event goes on until 11:00. The belief is that if they are indeed truly devoted to Draupadi they will be able to complete the ritual unscathed.
The fire walking during the festival takes place in the city’s Chinatown district – an area popular among tourists in the city. Visitors will an endless selection of tasty cuisine, expensive teas and excellent markets to enjoy before and after taking in the highlights of Thimithi. More on restaurants.
blog comments powered by Disqus