<p>The roots of the Draupadiamma festival can be traced back to the Mahabharata and Draupadi’s birth. She was born in fire to safeguard dharma (truth and well-being). The festival is symbolic of her rebirth and the purification of her devotees.<br /><br />The embers that were laid in a trench were hot enough to blister even the skins of people standing a few distance away. The devotees who ran over it chanting the mantra 'Govindo….Gopala'. While the onlookers watched the event in awe, the participants did not show any sign of fear or pain after accomplishing the run. There were men who danced across the fire pit while some strolled on it. The event was accompanied by frenzied drumbeat and music.<br /><br />The programme started at about 5.30 pm with a reprise of Pandavas pulling the chariot of Lord Krishna from the nearby Dharmaraya temple. The programme went off peacefully without any untoward incident.<br /><br />A volunteer said the event, organised by Sri Draupadi Amman Fire Walking Devotees Association is into its 39th year. "We celebrate the victory of Pandavas because the battle of Mahabharatha fulfilled the wish of Draupadi. Fire symbolises the hardship Draupadi had undergone and at last got her wishes fulfilled. Devotees believe that whoever walks through fire remembering the hardship faced by Draupadi gets his wishes fulfilled," said the volunteer.<br /><br />People who wish to walk on fire maintain abstinence for 21 says. They fast during this period. They believe that the ordeal by fire purifies the body, mind and soul. The committee will organise Pattabhishekam of Dharmaraya Yudhishthira on Wednesday at the Dharmaraya Temple.<br /></p>
<p>The roots of the Draupadiamma festival can be traced back to the Mahabharata and Draupadi’s birth. She was born in fire to safeguard dharma (truth and well-being). The festival is symbolic of her rebirth and the purification of her devotees.<br /><br />The embers that were laid in a trench were hot enough to blister even the skins of people standing a few distance away. The devotees who ran over it chanting the mantra 'Govindo….Gopala'. While the onlookers watched the event in awe, the participants did not show any sign of fear or pain after accomplishing the run. There were men who danced across the fire pit while some strolled on it. The event was accompanied by frenzied drumbeat and music.<br /><br />The programme started at about 5.30 pm with a reprise of Pandavas pulling the chariot of Lord Krishna from the nearby Dharmaraya temple. The programme went off peacefully without any untoward incident.<br /><br />A volunteer said the event, organised by Sri Draupadi Amman Fire Walking Devotees Association is into its 39th year. "We celebrate the victory of Pandavas because the battle of Mahabharatha fulfilled the wish of Draupadi. Fire symbolises the hardship Draupadi had undergone and at last got her wishes fulfilled. Devotees believe that whoever walks through fire remembering the hardship faced by Draupadi gets his wishes fulfilled," said the volunteer.<br /><br />People who wish to walk on fire maintain abstinence for 21 says. They fast during this period. They believe that the ordeal by fire purifies the body, mind and soul. The committee will organise Pattabhishekam of Dharmaraya Yudhishthira on Wednesday at the Dharmaraya Temple.<br /></p>
