White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1932-09-29

| modern Delhi, had one queen, Drau-
padi, the deity invoked at this festi-
val. These five kings had some cou-
sins who envied their position. Dury-
odhana, their leader, conceived plan
whereby he could obtain the coveted
kingdom. He invited the Pandus to
gambling party at his palace and
through trickery won their kingdom.
Duryodhana then sent for the queen
and endeavored to dlsrobe her in pub
lie A higher power protected her
chastity by making her garments I'M
ending. Through sheer exhaustion,
Duryodhana finally gave up his at
tempt to disrobe Draupadi, who then
united his turban and vowed that she
would not retwine it until her enemies
had been destroyed, and then she
would battle in fire as proof of her
chastity. A war followed, and when
the Pandus were the victors Drau
padi performed her vow. So today she
Is worshiped as one Of the seven god
desses Of chastity, and even the men
ton of her namo IS enough - wipe
away all sins"
Walking through fire has become
custom for the curing Of bodily ills
or the overcoming of other calamities.
Faith in the efficacy Of these ceremo
MES is absolute. Suppose some mem
Der of ones family has suffered a Sc
rious illness, over which the medical
man seems to have no power. One
makes vow to perform Treemiri or
Tai Pusam and the recovery begins
| at the end Of the ceremony. Or sup
! pose one is filled with gratitude for
blessings which have been bestowed
or is DESTROYS of having favors
vouchsafed in the future. Again q
vow is made to walk on fire or deco
rate the body with needles thrust into
the flesh, and all will be well.
10 the Hindu god Subramanya, son
Of silva, the Tai Pusam VOWS are made.
This three-day ceremony takes place
in Singapore in January. Weeks in
advance the participants prepare them
selves by abstaining from the routlnes
Of life.
The first day Of the ceremony the
silver car, which is the palanquin Of
the image Of the god, is brought forth
from it's shelter in the courtyard Of
the Tank road temple, busted and
polished, then drawn to the South
Bridge road temple, where 1t remains
under q canopy until the third day.
On the car is a thronelike seat for
Subramanya.
Martyrs Of Subramanya.
On the second day the difficult part
Of the VOW Is performed. Although
the devotees begin early in the morn
ing, it Is usually late afternoon before
all have had chance to become self
made martyrs. The participants-men,
women, and children-gather in the
grounds of the temple and battle in
well the water Of which has been
blessed previously by the officiating
priest.
The image of the god Is garlanded
with flowers, most intricately and ar
tistically arranged. and showered with
offerings of rice, bananas, coconuts,
betel leaf, and other delicacies. The
vow-maker Is now closely surrounded
by his friends, who chant passages
from the Vedas, here and there insert
ing in unison the cry Of "Aro Hara."
Next, powdered ashes, which may or
may not be prepared to relieve the
senstiveness of the skin. are busted
over the body. The flesh is some.
times pounded with the edge Of the
| land, causing the skin to rise.
Within eyeshot sits Tamil clad in
| loincloth and silver pins. Two tenn
| pie officials, one on each side, prepare
| the martyr for his three-mile pilgrim
| age to the temple on Tank road by
thrusting pins into his flesh. His
chest, his back, his forehead, his arms
and thighs, are entirely covered with
small, shining vshaped pins. He seems
almost in state of coma and his
| eyes roll in their sockets until at
times only the whites are visible.
The observer finds himself also in
the midst of another group, watching
the priests thrusting long spearlike
| needles through holes in the metal laths
of fanlke arch over another devotee
| These needles, which are from two to
| three feet long. have to be fastened Sc
| curely in the flesh Of the chest and
! back in order to hold in place this
heavy metal canopy Through his cheek
| is thrust silver skewer which pro.
trudes an inch or more on each side
of his face.