Thimithi
Photo credit to Irish Guy’s World the World Trips.
Thimithi is the festival celebrated by the Hindus. It is the fire walking ceremony that falls during the month Aipasi of the Tamil month. Devotees will walk on fire in exchange for wish or blessing granted by the goddess Draupadi.
Thimithi is a festival that originate in South India and is practised not only in india but Singapore, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, South Africa and other countries with large South Indian populations. In Singapore, this special occasion is celebrated in Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple in Serangoon Road.
Thimithi is celebrated to honour Draupadi, the main character of Mahabharata who is a wife of 5 Pandavas brothers. The pandavas brothers lost their country, home and even wife in the gambling session with their cousin, Duryodhan. Duryodhan was not satisfied with the victory, he wanted to digrace the brothers. He asked his brother Dushasana to strip Draupadi in front of the court but Krishna saved her.
Since the incident happened, Draupadi vowed to only comb her hair after smearing Duryodhan’s blood on it and use his bone as a comb. The Mahabharata war took place to fulfill her vow. After the war, Draupadi walked through a bed of fire to prove her purity and she came out as fresh as a flower. Thimithi is celebrated to commemorate this event.
A week before the fire walking ceremony, devotees will perform their prayers to Periyachi who is the deities of Mariaman’s entourage. They will carry milk pots, do Kumbiduthandam (prostrating after every step) and Angapirathatchanam (rolling around the temple grounds). Mariaman will be given a milk bath with the milk devotees bought as it a belief that the sins of the man will be washed away.
The night before the fire walking ceremony, fire pit is prepared abd kept red hot throughout the ceremony. On the actual day of fire walking ceremony, the devotees will start the process at 4am and ends at 11am. Devoted devotees will walk through the fire unscathed. Minority people will get hurt while walking throguh the fire.
Below is a video showing the process of Thimithi, do enjoy!
Video credit to Youtube.
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