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10 hurt during ember walk at Tamil Nadu’s Mariyamman temple

Ten devotees, including two children, suffered burn injuries while participating in the annual ember walk ritual at the Mariyamman temple in Tamil Nadu’s Rasipuram, situated in Namakkal District on Wednesday.
Despite safety measures, including a standby rescue team and volunteers, the incident occurred when several devotees slipped and fell into the pit. The injured were rushed to the District Government Hospital in ambulances, where they are undergoing treatment.
In the video, one can see men and women holding children and walking across the pit filled with burning coals. Police officials on the other side of the pit are seen pulling the devotees across, helping them in the fire walk ritual.

Thousands of worshippers gathered at the Sumangali Mariyamman temple for the ‘Theemithi’ festival, an event where devotees walk across a bed of embers to fulfil their prayers. Theemithi, celebrated in the Tamil month of Aippasi (mid-October to mid-November), is held in temples dedicated to Mariamman, the goddess of weather. This ritual is performed to honour Draupadi Amman, regarded as an incarnation of Mariamman. The festival, which began on October 24, features a range of rituals and offerings performed daily.
The temple’s ember walk ritual draws large crowds each year, with participants seeking blessings and protection.

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