{"id":12066,"date":"2021-10-22T21:36:24","date_gmt":"2021-10-22T16:06:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.savaari.com\/blog\/?p=12066"},"modified":"2024-01-31T17:28:58","modified_gmt":"2024-01-31T11:58:58","slug":"fire-walking-festival-thimithi-celebrations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.savaari.com\/blog\/fire-walking-festival-thimithi-celebrations\/","title":{"rendered":"Thimithi: The Fire-Walking Festival of India"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Did you know that there is a fire walking festival<\/strong> in India<\/strong>? If you are interested in learning more about the unique festivals that’s celebrated in India, this article on fire walking festival Thimithi<\/strong> is for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Picture yourself in the dark with the moon hanging in the sky, and a whiff of smoke pervades the warm air, stinging your eyes. Looking down, you see the glimmer of burning embers, some of which are as hot as 535 degrees Celsius<\/strong>, strewn on the ground below. A rhythm of beating drums fills your ears as Draupadi<\/strong> from the Mahabharata<\/strong> is honoured. The entire village is engulfed in the moment, as the richness of the surrounding imagery absorbs the senses. As the blazing embers lay before you, you are in a state of euphoria. But, will you walk through fire?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is a snapshot of Thimithi<\/strong>, the fire-walking festival celebrated in Tamil Nadu.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Thimithi?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Fire has long been an essential aspect of Hindu ceremonies in India, from tiny pujas to large weddings, due to its sacred significance. The festival of Thimithi, on the other hand, takes this fervent devotion to fire to a whole new level with its fire-walking rite – a spiritual consecration to Draupati<\/strong> Amman, an incarnation of goddess<\/strong> Mariamman<\/strong>. Goddess Mariamman is believed to have created villages and is considered to be the guardian of the village boundaries in this part of the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Theemithi or Thimithi is a South Indian festival<\/strong> held a week before Diwali<\/strong> in the month of Aippasi<\/strong> of the Tamil calendar<\/strong>, where the act of walking barefoot over a bed of hot embers or stones is observed. It generally falls between October<\/strong> and November<\/strong> in the Gregorian calendar. If you’re travelling to Tamil Nadu before Diwali, chances are you can experience this festival, as it is expected to fall on October 28 in 2021. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thimithi, a part of a two-and-a-half-month ceremony, is a culmination of numerous rituals in which scenes from the battle of Mahabharata<\/strong> between the Pandavas and Kauravas are reenacted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also Read: Experience Live: Unforgettable Indian Festivals!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why is Thimithi celebrated?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Thimithi is a penance performed by people to Draupadi Amman<\/strong>, the heroine of the Mahabharata<\/strong> and wife of the Pandavas<\/strong>. Draupadi walked on fire at the end of her victory over the Kauravas to display her virtuosity<\/strong> and purity<\/strong> and emerged unscathed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The festival of Thimithi is celebrated to express their devotion<\/strong> to Draupadi. <\/strong>It provides devotees with an opportunity to express, prove, reaffirm, and even test their beliefs. The notion is that if a person walks slowly and steadily on the blazing embers of the fire, he or she would be free of all catastrophes<\/strong> and bad health<\/strong>. Some devotees do this as a form of gratitude for getting rid of their difficulties. Some do it to fulfil long-held aspirations. It is also believed that the fire walking ceremony protects not just the person who does it, but the entire village.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How is Thimithi celebrated?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As the village gears up for the festivities with fervour, it begins with the hoisting of a flag<\/strong> with the image of Arjuna<\/strong> and Hanuman<\/strong>, one week before Diwali<\/strong>. Starting this day, the Mahabharata is read every night until two days following the fire walking festival Thimithi. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a sense of divine spirituality that simmers among devotees as Thimithi approaches, as fasting<\/strong> and daily prayers<\/strong> are observed up to three weeks before the ceremony as preparation and purifying steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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#Thimithi<\/a> ritual-thousands of Hindu devotees gathered at #PunnaiCholai<\/a> #Pathrakaaliyamman<\/a> Kovil,#Batticaloa<\/a> to take part in the festival of fire walking yesterday. Hundreds of fire-walkers engaged in this ceremony to honor #Amman<\/a> whom they believe is created from fire.#Tradition<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/rO2NJBkivd<\/a><\/p>— \u0b95\u0bb0\u0bbf\u0b95\u0bbe\u0bb2\u0ba9\u0bcd garikaalan (@garikaalan) June 11, 2019<\/a><\/blockquote>