Theemidhi (Thimithi) Festival - Sri Mariamman Temple - Singapore

The major event at this Hindu festival is the breathtaking fire-walking ceremony in which devotees honour the goddess Draupadi. Legend has it that she proved her fidelity and innocence to her husband by walking barefoot over burning coals, and Hindu priests and devotees demonstrate their faith, courage and endurance by walking across a 21ft (7m) pit of glowing coals without showing any signs of pain. In this test of purity devotees believe that they will only be burnt if they are impure. Afterwards they wade through a pit of goat's milk and then stain their feet with yellow turmeric. Read more at my blog: www.irish-guy.com/2003_10_13_archive.html