Fire Walking at Theemidhi

The Theemidhi Fire-walking ceremony is a Hindu festival originating in South India that is celebrated during the month of Aipasi (or Aippasi) of the Tamil calendar. This occurs between the Gregorian calendar months of October and November. The fire-walking ceremony is in honour of Draupati Amman, who is considered the incarnation of Mariamman, and is practiced not only in India, but also in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa and other countries with large South Indian populations.

In Singapore, the celebrations begin at Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple in Serangoon Road around 2 a.m. and the priest leads the grand procession of people through the streets to Sri Mariamman Temple in South Bridge Road where the actual thimithi takes place. The priest starts the thimithi by walking through the pit filled with hot burning coals with the Karagam (sacred water filled pot) on his head. He is followed by male devotees intent on fulfilling their personal promises and proving their faith. The devotees may include a minority of non-Indians and non-Hindus.

For event details see: Theemidhi 2010