Devotees who want to take part in the religious rituals of Singapore’s Hindu fire-walking festival must register online from 24 September. There will be no walk-in ticket sales at the temple for those ceremonies.
The annual festival, also known as theemithi vizha, is held at Sri Mariamman Temple, Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple, at 244 South Bridge Road. Fire-walking itself is on 1 November. The Hindu Endowments Board (HEB) set out the rules in a statement on 6 August.
Anyone who wishes to take part in paalkudam, angaprathachanam or kumbiduthandam, or to walk on or around the fire pit, must sign up at heb.org.sg. HEB is urging devotees to book as soon as registration opens.
What the festival is
Theemithi is a three-month cycle of vows and public worship. It opened with kodiyetram, the festival flag hoisting, on 17 August. Devotees carry out the later rites to fulfil vows they have made.
Paalkudam is the milk-pot procession: participants carry pots of milk as an act of devotion. In angaprathachanam, they lie on the ground with arms outstretched in prayer and roll around the temple premises. Kumbiduthandam is a slower circuit of the same grounds, with a full prostration every three steps.
On 1 November, male participants walking on the fire pit join a foot procession that starts at Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple on Serangoon Road and ends at Sri Mariamman Temple.
How to take part
Registration is online only for the named rituals and for walking on or around the fire pit. The temple will not sell participation tickets at the door. HEB asked devotees to secure slots as soon as the portal opens on 24 September, because demand is high for a single-day climax after months of festival observances.
Questions can go to the temple office on 6223 4064. HEB also points people to its website and Facebook page for updates.
Where it happens
Sri Mariamman Temple stands on South Bridge Road in Chinatown, a short walk from Chinatown MRT (North East and Downtown lines). The fire-walkers’ procession begins further north at Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple on Serangoon Road, near Farrer Park and Little India MRT, then moves through the city to South Bridge Road.
The temple remains a working place of worship throughout the festival. Visitors who are not registered for the rites can still watch from the public areas, subject to crowd control on 1 November.
Practical Details
Online registration opens: 24 September
Flag hoisting (kodiyetram): 17 August (already held)
Fire-walking day: 1 November
HEB statement: 6 August
Rituals requiring online registration: paalkudam (milk pots); angaprathachanam (rolling in prayer around the temple); kumbiduthandam (prostrating every three steps); walking on or around the fire pit. No walk-in ticket sales at the temple for these.
Fire-pit procession (1 November, men): Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, Serangoon Road, to Sri Mariamman Temple.
Venue: Sri Mariamman Temple, 244 South Bridge Road, Singapore
Nearest MRT: Chinatown (NE4/DT19). Procession start: Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple, Serangoon Road, near Farrer Park (NE8) and Little India (NE7/DT12).
Price: Not stated. Register at the HEB site; there are no door sales for ritual participation.
Contact: Temple office 6223 4064
Official site: Hindu Endowments Board registration and information
Also: HEB Facebook page
For the original report on registration and the festival timetable, see The Straits Times coverage of theemithi registration.