BARI, ITALY, June 23, 2026 (Barinedita, translated from Italian): A statue of a Goddess carried in procession by a hundred people dressed in yellow, wearing flower garlands and crowns, and accompanied by the sound of drums. This is what Bari witnessed on Sunday, June 6, when the Mauritian Tamil community paraded through the streets of the Carrassi district to celebrate Theemithi Thiruvizha, the “fire-walking festival.” This is a religious ritual dedicated to Mariamman, a Deity associated with protection, healing and fertility. It takes place annually and culminates—as the name suggests—with a walk across burning coals. The participants are Mauritians belonging to the ancient Tamil ethnic group, which originated in southeastern India and northeastern Sri Lanka. Over the centuries, Tamils ​​have settled in various parts of the world, including the African island nation of Mauritius. In turn, these Mauritians have moved to various European cities—including Bari, where they have had a presence since the 1980s, with a community numbering close to 1,500 people.

The festival begins at the Francesca Laura Morvillo Garden and then proceeds to Parco Gargasole, where the highlight of the ritual awaits: the fire-walking ceremony. During the one-kilometer walk along Viale della Repubblica, we hear songs, prayers, and ritual invocations. The percussive sound of drums dominates the background upon arrival at the much-anticipated Theemithi. For participants, braving the crossing symbolically represents Mariammen’s ability to guide the faithful through life’s suffering and hardships. Physically, the practice is made possible by the properties of the coals and the speed of the crossing, but for the participants, the primary significance remains spiritual and religious. The walk is preceded by days or weeks of preparation—involving prayer, fasting, and abstinence—as participants enter a state of deep religious concentration.

More on the festival, including a short video, at source.
https://www.barinedita.it/reportage/n5649-canti-piercing-e-camminate-sui-carboni-ardenti–a-carrassi-per-la-festa-dei-tamil-mauriziani

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