The Thimithi (Tamil: தீமிதி[1][2] Kundam)[3] or firewalking ceremony is a Hindu festival originating in Tamil Nadu, South India that is celebrated a week before Deepavali, during the month of Aipasi (or Aippasi) of the Tamil calendar (Gregorian calendar months of October and November). The fire-walking ceremony is in honour of the goddess Draupati Amman, who is considered the incarnation of goddess Mariamman, and is practiced not only in India, but also in countries with large Tamil populations like Sri Lanka, Fiji, Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius, Réunion, South Africa and others.
In Singapore, the celebrations begin at Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple in Serangoon Road around 10pm and the priest leads the grand procession of people through the streets to Sri Mariamman Temple in South Bridge Road where the actual tīmiti takes place. The priest starts the tīmiti by walking through the pit filled with hot burning wood with a karakattam "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.[4]
- ^ [1] Archived 31 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ [2] Archived 29 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Tamil Nadu / Erode News : 'Kundam' festival on Tuesday". The Hindu. 26 March 2005. Archived from the original on 6 April 2005. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
- ^ Sayampanathan SR, Ngim RC, Foo CL (April 1997). "Fire walking in Singapore: a profile of the burn patient". J R Coll Surg Edinb. 42 (2): 131–4. PMID 9114688.