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SOCIETY
When
devotees walk on embers to appease Goddess
Mariamman in Coimbatore
Irugur
(Tamil Nadu): Watching hundreds of people walk
barefoot on embers is a sight that can leave anyone
flabbergasted. But in a small town of Tamil Nadu's
Coimbatore District, it evokes faith and prayers.
Hundreds of Hindu devotees participating in a holy
ritual in Irugur, a small town of Tamil Nadu, on Saturday
walked on burning embers to appease Goddess Mariamman
or, Kali, the Goddess of destruction. It is a common
belief that the blessings of the Goddess can enable
her ardent devotees to walk on fire without much pain.
The faithfuls - both men and women, who had taken
vows to get their wishes granted, walked over the
burning embers. "I was childless even after three
years of my marriage and my husband was jobless. Last
year, I came here and prayed to the Goddess to grant
me a child and my husband a job. Since both my wishes
have been fulfilled, I have come here to participate
in the holy ritual," said Megamalar, a devotee. A
pit about 40 feet long and three feet wide and deep
was dug in front of the Mariamman temple and cartloads
of burnt wooden logs spread over it. The devotees,
led by the priest, walked the whole length of the
pit amidst a deafening sound of trumpets, drums and
cymbals. Devotees said they never felt the heat of
the burning firewood due to blessings from the Goddess.
"I have been participating in the festival for the
past 15 years. Earlier, I was really scared of the
ritual. But I didn't feel any pain or fear after I
walked two steps. The ritual reinforces my faith in
God and I walk over the fire for the welfare of the
society and country," said Senthil, another devotee.
The annual ceremony generates extraordinary religious
fervour and thousands of devotees from the surrounding
areas visit the temple to witness it. Besides Tamil
Nadu, the custom of walking on embers is prevalent
in the neighbouring States of Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.
-Feb
20, 2007
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