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In some places of Tamil Nadu where the prime temples of this Goddess is situated, the people used to undertake some ritual activities like Agni pot, Fire Walk and Kavadi. These kind of ritual activities will be performed every year during festival time. Before performing these ritual activities everyone would follow strict viradam. On those days people will avoid nonvegetarian foods, sex and other bad habits including smoking and drinking liquors. It is believed that Shri Mariamman will offer good wealth and health to the devotees who will undertake these ritual activities.
Agni Pot (TheeChatty)
This is a small semi-spherical pot made out of mud which is painted with different colors. The pot will be partiallly filled with rice husk and some margosa wooden pieces to make fire in the pot. To ignite fire inside the pot camphor will be used. The mixture of oils like gingeli and castor will be added to the burnning margosa sticks to get constant fire. The Agni Pots will be carried by the devotees on their hands from their home to the prime temple of Shri Mariamman and the same will be left at the corner of shrine after reaching there. Traditional music like nadhaswaram and melam will be accompanied with this ritual activity. It is amazingly true that smoke which will come out of the fire pot will have pleasant smell and it'll never give irritation to our eyes and nose.
Kavadi
This is containing two semicircular pieces of wood or steel and both attached by a horizontal bar at the bottom. This is usually decorated with colorful shining papers and cloths. Sometimes both ends of kavadi will be provided with small vessels containing holy water or milk. The devotees will carry the kavadies on their shoulder and dance with it until they reach the prime temple of Shri Mariamman. This is also accompanied with the traditional music of nadhaswaram and melam.
Fire Walk
This is indeed toughest activity performed by the true devotees of Shri Mariamman. During festival time fire pit will be prepared by burnning the wooden pieces at a place nearby the prime temple. The burnt wooden pieces will be broken into small pieces to get a layer of embers. The devotees carrying fire pots and kavavadi will dare to run over the embers. This will be performed only by very few devotees having will power and confidence.
