Woman rescued after tripping on hot coals during fire-walking ritual
- 6 years ago
A woman was rescued by brave bystanders after she fell on hot coals during a fire-walking ritual.
As the woman ran barefoot on the burning embers, she tripped on her saree and fell down.
A few men, who were in the vicinity rushed to help, and pulled her out quickly preventing a major mishap. She was taken to a hospital and treated for minor burns.
The incident took place at Bagalgunte village on the outskirts of Bangalore, India, on October 15.
A local resident Namitha Gowda said a similar mishap had occurred two years ago. “A woman had fallen down during the ritual and had been saved in the same way. Wearing a saree and fire walking is a bad idea,” she said.
Bagalgunte village holds an annual religious fair in honour of a local goddess and fire-walking is a highlight of the event.
Many devotees take vow to walk on fire to appease the goddess. They run over a bed of hot coals, which is prepared by burning wood.
As the devotees run fast the water on their bare-feet vapourises to form a protective layer shielding their skin. The coal or wood embers, which are used in fire-walking, also have a low capacity to conduct heat.
But the faithful believe that it is the goddess who ensures that they do not get burned during the ritual.
As the woman ran barefoot on the burning embers, she tripped on her saree and fell down.
A few men, who were in the vicinity rushed to help, and pulled her out quickly preventing a major mishap. She was taken to a hospital and treated for minor burns.
The incident took place at Bagalgunte village on the outskirts of Bangalore, India, on October 15.
A local resident Namitha Gowda said a similar mishap had occurred two years ago. “A woman had fallen down during the ritual and had been saved in the same way. Wearing a saree and fire walking is a bad idea,” she said.
Bagalgunte village holds an annual religious fair in honour of a local goddess and fire-walking is a highlight of the event.
Many devotees take vow to walk on fire to appease the goddess. They run over a bed of hot coals, which is prepared by burning wood.
As the devotees run fast the water on their bare-feet vapourises to form a protective layer shielding their skin. The coal or wood embers, which are used in fire-walking, also have a low capacity to conduct heat.
But the faithful believe that it is the goddess who ensures that they do not get burned during the ritual.