THEEMITHI - WALKING ON FIRE
People have to walk on fire in this festival
Theemithi which is also known as the walking on fire is mainly originated in Tamil Nadu and then after it spread in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malesia, Mauritius, Reunion, South Africa and other countries. This festival is mainly celebrated in the month of Aippasi of the Tamil calendar that means the first Monday which falls around July and August. The Fire walking ceremony commences in the honour of the goddess Draupadi who is the main female person of the epic Mahabharata. She is also considered as the incarnation of Goddess Mariamman. It has a belief of the people that Draupadi also walked over the fire in South Indian ritual like goddess Mariamman of SRI MARIAMMAN TEMPLE. This is also considered as one of the reasons why Draupadi is believed to the incarnation of goddess Mariamman.
In this festival, a flag hosted at Sri Mariamman temple, the flag in which there is a picture of Hindu God Hanuman printed on it and from that day to after two days of Theemithi festival, the Tamil version of Mahabharata recited every night. This entire celebration of Theemithi festival takes place at Sri Mariamman temple. The local people of this region starts the preparation of this festival before two-and-a- half month.
There is another very significant thing in this festival - Aravan Puja.
This puja is mainly conducted in the days which held for the month of September and October. According to Tamil people, this puja is held in the month of 'Purattasi'.This Aravan Puja or the prayer of Aravan is devoted to the son of Arjuna. The son of Arjuna "Aravan" sacrificed his life to Goddess Kali for the victory of Pandavas in the war of Mahabharata.
In this festival, the people mainly walk on the fire to pray to goddess Draupadi to fulfilled their wishes and desire.There is another belief of the people regarding walking on the coal of fire is their dedicated toward Lord Amman. People have a belief that if they come out safely from the fire, it means that Lord Amman showering blessing on them and if they not safely come out of the fire, it means Lord Amman is not happy with them.
THE GREAT STORY BEHIND WALKING ON FIRE.
The two belief on walking on fire is inter-connected with each other.The first belief is by walking on fire, one can purify themselves, this has also been written in the ancient Hindu scriptures. The other story of goddess Draupadi. During the war of Mahabharat, to ensure the victory of Pandavas, Queen Draupadi walked on the firing coals to pray to God for the victory of Pandavas in the war of Mahabharata. So from that time, people have the belief that if they walk on the ignited coals, then Goddess Draupadi will fulfil all their desires.
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