Devotees tell of fire pit horror

Allegations of blisters, burns and betrayal

- WENDY JASSON DA COSTA

ASACRED firewalking ceremony in honour of a Hindu goddess ended in tragedy, with devotees claiming they felt the skin “melting” off their feet and the stench of burning flesh in the air.

Dozens of devotees reportedly limped from the blazing fire pit at Durban’s Umbilo Shree Ambalavanaar Alayam, on Sunday, their feet blistered and scorched, after a ritual meant to honour the “mother”, Goddess Draupadi Amman, reportedly went horribly wrong.

As faith, flaming feet and factional politics turned into accusations and anger, news of the incident started circulating on social media. Participants alleged the new temple management had bypassed longstanding safety practices which had been observed for generations.

So far, this ancient ritual, in which devotees walk across the fire pit towards a murti of the goddess, has taken place at the temple for 151 years.

Alengthy Facebook post, now apparently the subject of a legal dispute, claimed that the committee was inhumane because it had not reached out to victims following the incident.

“Despite improved weather conditions, out of approximately 60 devotees, more than 70% suffered burns or blistering. The fire pit was repeatedly raked after almost every participant, bringing fresh hot coals to the surface. Even children walking the fire were exposed to newly raked hot coals,” the post said.

While the temple’s management denied any wrongdoing, the injured devotees tell a very different story.