Firewalkers brave wet weather
Ritual was originally scheduled for April but postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions
About 100 Hindu devotees gathered at the Bhagwati Temple Korociriciri in Nausori yesterday to witness the annual firewalking ritual, despite the rainy weather.
Twenty Kangan boys participated in the firewalking ceremony.
Head priest Govindan Murti said this year’s ceremony was a bit different because of the COVID-19 restrictions in place.
Mr Murti said the firewalking pit was heated from Saturday night until 3pm yesterday. “The boys prepared themselves in the temple, before they had gone to the riverbank. From there they walked back to the temple and walked the fire pit for close to 30 minutes,” he said.
Mr Murti said the ritual was always scheduled for April, but because of the restrictions that were in place, they had to postpone the event to August.
“This was an annual event that could not be missed on our calendar. This has enabled us to continue with another successful annual programme every year.”
The organisers were grateful to India’s High Commissioner to Fiji, Padmaja, for gracing their annual event.