A FIVE-YEAR-OLD boy was the youngest participant in a firewalk to mark the end of a nine-day prayer ceremony in Lautoka this past week.
The child was among 35 devotees at the Waiyavi Kaliamman Kovil temple, said committee president, Krishna Sami.
“He also did the nine-day prayer before the fire-walking ceremony, and as president of the temple committee, I take responsibility for the wellbeing of all devotees,” he said.
“I was confident that he would do well. We pray and follow certain rules, and prove ourselves holy by walking on fire without any fear, in honour of our god, Kaliamman. Devotees walked on fire pits 10 feet long, and it is encouraging to see lots of participation from youths, despite other things that may distract them and demand their time,” he added.
“They wear their religious costumes and pray and walk on fire. We are not worried that they may be distracted because it’s a different ball-game in Waiyavi, and everybody takes part in merrymaking and there have been no injuries from firewalking in the past 20 years.”
Mr Sami said they wanted to promote their religion and had increasingly received support from Lautoka’s large business community.
He said the oldest fire-walking participant was a 79-year-old man from Ba.
