In a spectacular display of faith, Deputy Commissioner K.S. Latha Kumari wowed thousands in Hassan city, Karnataka, by walking barefoot over flaming coals during the Hasanamba Temple’s traditional fire‑walking ceremony. The video of her stride across hot embers quickly went viral, earning praise from devotees and social‑media followers alike.
An ancient ritual gets a modern twist
The fire‑walking ritual, known locally as Kendotsava, kicked off early Thursday morning on the temple grounds after a big crowd had finished viewing Goddess Hasanamba on Wednesday night. It’s part of the temple’s 13‑day annual festival that the whole region watches with great reverence. As the sanctum doors are set to close for the year, the ceremony and the accompanying Siddeshwara Swamy chariot festival were held to mark the end of the religious season.
Deputy Commissioner walks the fire
Deputy Commissioner Latha Kumari, wearing a bright pink churidar, approached the coals with a mix of nerves and devotion. After senior devotees guided her, she stepped onto the hot embers, saying, “Seeing devotees carry the sacred kalasha over the fire inspired me. I had never walked on fire before, but faith and prayer kept me safe.” The crowd cheered as she crossed, celebrating her bravery.
Millions of devotees, millions of faith moments
The temple hosted about 2.6 million devotees during the festival, including local celebrities, film stars, and politicians. Thanks to special “darshan” tickets and a popular laddu (sweet) offering, the temple’s authorities raised roughly ₹20 crore in revenue. The rise in online engagement and the viral video are expected to boost the temple’s tourism profile for the coming year.
A unique preservation miracle
A point of fascination for visitors is the temple’s miracle of preservation. Food, flowers, and even the main lamp inside the sanctum reportedly stay fresh and lit even when the temple is closed for the rest of the year. Devotees see this as proof of Goddess Hasanamba’s protective presence. The temple reopens only for a few special days during Fang/given no longer for as well for Diwali.
What’s next for Hasanamba Temple?
The sanctuary doors closed on Wednesday after a final sacred ceremony, and while a precise count of tickets sold or total revenue hasn’t yet been released, the popularity of the recent fire‑walking event has drawn attention from journalists and devotees looking forward to the temple’s reopening next year. The event marks the temple’s end of year cycle, with the hopes that next season will bring even more faith and visitors.
Source: ianslive
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