Elderly Devotee Falls Into Fire Pit During Theemithi Festival Near Tiruvallur, Suffers Burns

An elderly devotee was injured after accidentally falling into a fire pit during the Theemithi firewalking festival at the Osuramman temple in Mappedu village, near Tiruvallur.

The festival at the Osuramman temple in Mappedu began last month on the 24th with the sacred thread-tying (Kappu Kattuthal) ceremony. On Saturday, events including the pouring of ritual porridge (Kozh Ootruthal) and the fire pot procession (Agni Satti Purappadu) were held. The festival's main event — the Theemithi firewalking — took place the following day.

Thousands of fasting devotees, carrying ritual pots (karagams), formed a procession alongside the deity's chariot and walked through the fire pit in front of the temple to receive the blessings of Goddess Osuramman.

Devotee Falls, Sustains Shoulder Burns

During the firewalking, an elderly man slipped and fell into the fire pit. Police personnel and festival organizers on duty immediately rushed in and rescued him. He sustained burn injuries on his shoulder from the fall.

He was swiftly taken to a nearby private hospital for first aid, before being transferred to the government hospital, where he is currently undergoing treatment.

The incident of a devotee falling into the fire pit during the festival caused widespread shock among the crowd gathered at the event.