THROUGH
THE EYES OF...
Nicola
Goodhead &
Nicola Godfrey - UK
We
are the two Nikkis. We arrived in Singapore on 8 October on the first
stage of our travels. After 3 years of University writing and researching
essays, we still couldn't say no when Ping asked us to research and
write a report on the hostel trip out to the Thimidhi Festival being
held in the early morning of 13 October. So late on 12 October, after
a big night out to Coyote Ugly the night before with a group of people
from the hostel, we met to brief the group of about 20 people about
this important festival.
The
Thimidhi festival is the primary celebration in the run-up to Divali.
Divali, or Deepavali, is the most important celebration in the Hindu
calendar. The festival occurs over 5 days. However, as Thimidhi shows,
the preparations leading up to it are also amazing. Divali means "Festival
of Lights" and signifies the triumph of good over evil, light
over darkness. Hindus lights lamps, "deeps" inside and outside
their houses, these are clay bowls filled with oil and a lit wick,
they are symbols of knowledge. These are sold in the Festival Village
which is set up at this time just at the end of Campbell Lane, a 20
second walk from the hostel. This bazaar also sells food, sari's and
henna painting and has a fantastic atmosphere throughout the day and
night. Little India is amazing at this time, Serangoon Road has hundreds
of lights over it to celebrate Divali.
Thimidhi means fire walking and the festival begins at the Sri Srinivasa
Perumal Temple on Serangoon Road in Little India. This is where the
devotees of the Hindu faith take their ritual bath. We were allowed
inside the temple, there were people playing music, singing and chanting.
We watched as they washed themselves completely in water to cleanse
in preparation for the fire walking, all dressed in orange sarongs.
Then they all gathered inside the actual temple and began to chant.
As they emerge, the procession into Chinatown begins. It is suprising
how many followers there are, the length of the procession is amazing
and goes much further than the eye can see. There were also hundreds
of spectators, following the procession. We were the only Westerners
we saw, we felt slightly like we were imposing on their ritual but
everyone was welcoming so we were really glad we could be there to
see this event.
Once
at the temple in Chinatown, the Sri Mariamman Temple which is the
oldest Hindu temple in Singapore, each follower must cross a 4 metre
bed of burning coal barefoot. They do this to honour the Goddess Draupadi
who in the Indian epic Mahabharta, proved her innocence by walking
bare-footed on burning coals. Once at the temple we were allowed in,
but we only caught a brief glimpse as each person is ushered through
quickly.
This all took place between 1 and 4 am, and it was still continuing
when we left. It was a long walk and a late night but definitely worth
it.
In the evening of 13 October, the fire-walking festival ends with
a grand Silver Chariot Procession to mark the victory of the Goddess
Draupadi. People gather on the Serangoon Road to see the decorated
chariot and offer gifts to the Goddess.
As someone who has had little experience of religious festivals I
found this quite amazing and a totally different but enjoyable experience.
(Nikki Godfrey)
I too thought the festival was beautiful and the atmosphere fantastic.
I'm really glad that we were here at the right time, and staying in
the right place because it was thanks to Ping and Hai that we knew
about this event and saw all of it. (Nikki Goodhead)