FIRE-WALKING IN INDIA.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 408, 9 July 1908, Page 4

FIRE-WALKING IN INDIA.

Fire-walking is a religious observance which never fails to arouse the curiosity and interest even of those who are most sceptical as to the genuineness ot the performance. An account of the rite as recently performed in Madras is published by the Times of India, which says guardedly : —‘‘We give this telegram exactly as it reached us. It comes from a correspondent whose accuracy we have no reason to doubt, but we accept no responsibility fur the facts set out therein.” The story itself is as follows : —A unique and extraordinary fire-walking ceremony took place at Nagercoil, the parties who took part in it being members of the Sowrastra or silk-weaving community. For some days there had been ceremonial reading of the Mahabharata, which was followed by the festival of Droupadi and Arjuna. Devotees numbering 40 underwent partial fasting for 41 days. Images were carried in procession through the principal streets, after which came the firewalking ceremony in a large pit 17ft by 12ft. Forty cartloads of fuel were burnt from early morning, and blazing coals nearly 2ft deep were spread over the pit and levelled. The devotees, who numbered 40, bathed, and dressing themselves in saffron-coloured clothes, walked straight into the pit, shouting ‘‘Govinda! Govinda ! ’ ’ and came up at the other end, after making a few circuits over the fire. The heat produced was intense, and the iron railings placed round the enclosure became redhot. It was considered an auspicious circumstance that at the identical time the fire-walking was about to commence a Brahmin kite made circles over the fire. The spectacle was witnessed by a crowd of 6000 persons, among whom was Dr. Mitchell, principal of the Maharjah’s College Trivandrum ; Mrs Mitchell, Benseley, superintendent Travancor police ; and Sankara Menon, district magistrate.