Walking on hot charcoal is a popular tradition in South India.
People from South India welcome the Theemithi festival by walking barefoot across a pit filled with burning firewood or hot charcoal. This tradition is a tribute the Hindu goddess Draupati Amman. Hardcore devotees are expected not to rush across the pit of fire, but to slowly stroll down it.
The head priest starts the walk across the pit, with a pot of sacred water on his head. He is then followed by a line of men willing and confident that they will prove their devotion. They often suffer from burns on their feet. It is not uncommon for them to fall onto the pit.
