Repost of the Day: Theemithi Firewalking Festival

October 31st, 2020 Happy Halloween and Full Blue Moon! Today I’m sharing my experience at the Firewalking Festival at Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple in Singapore in 2013. This year’s festival is happening right now and livestreaming online if you’re interested in watching. (You may also watch the edited video on Singapore’s Hindu Endowments Board Facebook page.) Tomorrow, I have a

Weekly Photo Challenge: Look Up

Stash your shoes at the entry and have a look. These are the beautiful mandalas of the Sri Mariamman Temple in Singapore. Whether you worship, firewalk or come to admire the prolific deity sculptures here, this temple is a feast for the eyes and a quiet respite from the hum of the city.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Vibrant

I’m late with this photo challenge, but I came across a vibrant image from Thaipusam in 2014 and thought I’d share. Such a colorful, memorable day!

Prambanan

Prambanan sits precariously in central Java, Indonesia. Built around 850 A.D., Prambanan has a dramatic history of glory, abandonment, rediscovery, restoration, repeated collapse and repeated rebuilding from centuries of earthquakes, looting, the ravages of time and volcanic eruptions as recently as February. It is a spectacular Hindu temple complex — one of the largest in Southeast Asia. Its central square

Photo of the Day: the Silver Chariot

Preparations for Thaipusam are complete and the events of the day have started. The Silver Chariot, pictured, arrived at Layan Sithi Vinayagar temple this morning and has just departed for the Sri Thendayuthapani. Vows begin at Sri Srinivasa Perumal temple tonight at 8:00 p.m. and continue through the night. Spike and chariot kavadi bearers begin entering the temple at 2:00

Sri Mariamman Firewalking Ceremony

It was evident that something unusual was afoot as I walked toward Chinatown and smoke drifted across South Bridge Road, muting the colorful shophouses in the distance. It was 5:30 p.m. when I arrived at Sri Mariamman temple for Theemithi, or the Firewalking Ceremony. Dull clouds and rumbling thunder added uncertainty to the atmosphere as I removed my shoes and