In Pictures: Annual fire-walking festival at the Sri Mariamman Temple
About 4,000 devotees walked barefoot across a fire pit at the centuries-old ritual, which is the culmination of prayers and ceremonies that began in late July.
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Volunteers portraying deities Sri Drowpathai Amman (in yellow) and Sri Krishna (wearing a crown) hold the battle flag and trident — symbols of the Kurukshetra battlefield — as they march to the Sri Drowpathai sanctum at Sri Mariamman Temple in the morning, before preparations for the fire-walking ritual began.
ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
The head pandaram Venugopal Thirunavukarasu (second from right) pouring coals into the firewood at 9am to ignite the fire pit.
ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
Devotees scatter turmeric into the pit before laying the firewood. Turmeric is regarded as auspicious in Hinduism.
ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
Devotees adding firewood to ensure a steady fire.
ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
A devotee braving the thick smoke to add more firewood into the pit.
ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
Visitors at the Sri Mariamman Temple to see around 4,000 devotees walk barefoot across a pit of hot coals on Oct 12.
ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
Silhouette of devotees queueing to the sanctum against the thick smoke at Sri Mariamman Temple.
ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
Head pandaram Venugopal Thirunavukarasu is the first to cross the fire pit shortly after 6.15pm at Sri Mariamman Temple during the fire-walking festival on Oct 12.
ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
Devotees crossing the fire pit at Sri Mariamman Temple on Oct 12.
ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
Devotees crossing the fire pit at Sri Mariamman Temple during the annual theemithi vizha, or fire-walking festival, on Oct 12, 2025.
ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI