Priest offers burning coal to deity

CHAMARAJANAGAR: In an unusual offering, the priest of the Satyavathi temple at Banahalli in the district offfered burning coal to the deity during the annual fair on Monday. The priest collected the coal with his bare hands, poured it into a cloth and made the offering to the goddess during the festival.

In many places, devotees walk barefoot over burning coal but at the Satyavathi Temple festival, at first, the burning coal is filled into copper pail with bare hands and poured into a cloth sack. It is then taken to the sanctum sanctorum, where it will be poured on to a banana leaf and offered to the deity.

Subbappa, the priest of Satyavathi Temple.

“This is a traditional ritual that we have been following for many years. However, it was stopped for some time due to communal riots. We have again started the temple festival and ritual this year. The festival has been celebrated very well. I have been doing this for the past 35 years. This is the first time that many people have gathered to celebrate the festival and we have followed traditional rituals”, said Subbappa, the priest of Satyavathi Temple.

Chandini, one who came to attend the temple festival.

“I have come to take part in the festival for the first time. We haven’t celebrated the festival in four years due to the Covid-19 pandemic and other issues. We are happy to take part in the festival. For the first time, I witnessed a priest taking burning coal with his bare hand”, said Chandini, who had come to attend the temple festival.