Fire-walking has been practiced for many centuries by many groups. On Christmas Day, we were invited to a large Hindu "Theemithi" firewalking ceremony and were quite overwhelmed by the devotion and the number of practitioners. There were (by our estimation) two thousand pilgrims making their treks across the 15-foot span of hot coals--barefoot. Some walked serenely without reaction, some danced, some had dramatic flair; but all crossed, set their feet in a pool of cool milk, and went out to say prayers at number of small temples within the larger Tamil temple. A few augmented their thanksgiving and/or penance by having a metal rod inserted horizontally through their tongues . . . preventing them from speaking or eating for a full day before the fire walk. Following the fire walk, they had their tongue skewer removed by a bearded holy man. Many of the firewalkers also carried a karakam on their heads--a sacred decorated pot filled with milk--which they poured onto a statue of the goddess Mariamman.
We left the ceremony after seeing hundreds of firewalkers cross the coals . . . amazed at the faith and strength of these believers. For us, it was a thought-provoking and different way to spend Christmas Day in a land far, far away.
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