Hindu devotees throw fire at each other as prayer ritual in India

Record ID: 1818716

  • Title: Hindu devotees throw fire at each other as prayer ritual in India
  • Date: 21st April 2024
  • Summary: MANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA (APRIL 21, 2024) (ANI- No use India) VARIOUS OF ILLUMINATED TEMPLE OF HINDU GODDESS DURGA IDOL OF GODDESS ATOP TEMPLE PEOPLE OUTSIDE ILLUMINATED TEMPLE PAINTINGS OF HINDU GODS AND GODDESSES ATOP TEMPLE IDOL OF GODDESS DURGA VARIOUS OF PRIEST DANCING CARRYING IDOL OF DEITY ON HIS HEAD AS DEVOTEES STAND AROUND HIM DEVOTEES PARTICIPATING IN HINDU FIRE RITUAL WALKING HOLDING LIT TORCHES DEVOTEES LIGHTING TORCH MADE OF COCONUT FRONDS VARIOUS OF DEVOTEES THROWING LIT TORCHES AT EACH OTHER (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) DEVOTEE, D.K. PUJARI, SAYING: "We never get hurt when we play with fire during the festival. However, we can get hurt if we play on any other usual day, but since today is a special day, we please the goddess through this act and we remain safe. This tradition has been going on for ages." VARIOUS OF DEVOTEES THROWING LIT TORCHES AT EACH OTHER (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) TEMPLE PRIEST, HARINARAYAN ASRANNA, SAYING: "Devotees from two villages participate in this ritual and throw fire at each other to please the goddess. The devotees who participate in this ritual are required to observe a fast for eight days. They never get hurt during the ritual as the goddess takes care of her children…this is the faith of the devotees." VARIOUS OF FIRE DEVOTEES STANDING IN TEMPLE PREMISES
  • Embargoed: 5th May 2024 09:00
  • Keywords: Hindu India Mangalore devotees fire ritual
  • Location: MANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA
  • City: MANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA
  • Country: India
  • Topics: Asia / Pacific,Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
  • Reuters ID: LVA001K6K3YA7
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Devotees in India's southern Mangalore city paid their respect to the Hindu goddess Durga by performing a unique fire ritual on Sunday (April 21) by throwing lit torches at each other.
    The odd tradition, which is locally known as 'Agni Keli' or 'Toothedhara' has been carried out in the temple during the festival for centuries.
    'Agni Keli' usually takes place on the second day of the eight-day fest. The devotees light a fire and then throw the fire torches at each other. It is widely believed among the devotees that the goddess would be pleased by this act.
    The locals use dried coconut fronds to prepare the fire torches.
    According to Hindu mythology, the goddess fought with demons that had destroyed mankind in the region. The demon named Raktha Beejasuras multiplied from a drop of blood of one demon.
    The stories related to the temple say that the goddess killed the demons without leaving a single drop of blood on earth and the locals fought using fire arrows.
  • Copyright Holder: ANI (India)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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