Over 3,700 devotees take part in annual fire-walking ceremony

allesennogwat · 10-09-2006, 02:40 PM

Singapore's annual fire-walking ceremony was held at the Sri Mariamman Temple at South Bridge Road early Monday morning.

More than 3,700 devotees took part to fulfill their vows.

The fire-walking ritual has been held in the wee hours of the morning since 1999.

It begins with the temple's chief priest crossing the fire pit carrying the Karagam or holy pot containing spiritual offerings - signifying the start of a successful ceremony.

Thousands of male devotees then follow the priest across the pit to fulfill their vows.

Female devotees, on the other hand, walk around the fire pit once all male devotees have crossed the four-metre long pit filled with charcoal.

Days before the fire-walk, devotees go on a stringent fast and observe a vegetarian diet.

President S R Nathan witnessed the event and said it was well organised.

He said, "The arrangements are excellent as always. I'm told that about 700 volunteers have come to help out in the organisation of the event. They are spread all over the route. Each year there are more and more improvements that are made. And each year there are more and more people taking part in the festival. So I'm very encouraged to see this orderly conduct of (this) very significant religious ceremony."

The fire-walking ceremony is one of the major religious festivals for Hindus in Singapore.

Now that it is over, Hindu households will prepare for their next festival - Deepavali or the Festival of Lights - on October 21

CAMPYBOB · 10-09-2006, 07:18 PM

Now that it is over, Hindu households will prepare for their next festival -

walking on a&d ointment, neosporin and nu-skin.

silly hindus.

10-09-2006, 02:40 PM	#1
allesennogwat Curio & Relic AKaholic #: 3738 Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 32,441	Over 3,700 devotees take part in annual fire-walking ceremony Singapore's annual fire-walking ceremony was held at the Sri Mariamman Temple at South Bridge Road early Monday morning. More than 3,700 devotees took part to fulfill their vows. The fire-walking ritual has been held in the wee hours of the morning since 1999. It begins with the temple's chief priest crossing the fire pit carrying the Karagam or holy pot containing spiritual offerings - signifying the start of a successful ceremony. Thousands of male devotees then follow the priest across the pit to fulfill their vows. Female devotees, on the other hand, walk around the fire pit once all male devotees have crossed the four-metre long pit filled with charcoal. Days before the fire-walk, devotees go on a stringent fast and observe a vegetarian diet. President S R Nathan witnessed the event and said it was well organised. He said, "The arrangements are excellent as always. I'm told that about 700 volunteers have come to help out in the organisation of the event. They are spread all over the route. Each year there are more and more improvements that are made. And each year there are more and more people taking part in the festival. So I'm very encouraged to see this orderly conduct of (this) very significant religious ceremony." The fire-walking ceremony is one of the major religious festivals for Hindus in Singapore. Now that it is over, Hindu households will prepare for their next festival - Deepavali or the Festival of Lights - on October 21

10-09-2006, 07:18 PM	#2
CAMPYBOB Moderator AKaholic #: 15 Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: minerva, ohio Posts: 3,977	Now that it is over, Hindu households will prepare for their next festival - walking on a&d ointment, neosporin and nu-skin. silly hindus.

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