Madurai: Muthuvanthidal near Thirupuvanam in Sivaganga District stands as an example of religious harmony as everyone in the village observes Muharram and participates in rituals, including ‘poulithithal’ on that day.
The Nachiar Fatima Mosque was said to have been built in 1952 and Muslims in the village defended it before.
However, as a small population of Muslims migrated from the village, now areas dominated Hinduism.
People, believe that Fatima Natchiar became their guardian angel and had built a new mosque near the old one and had defended it.
Meanwhile, Muslims come to Dhargah for Muharram, people in this village observe the day by fulfilling their oath with their respective gods.
Rituals like ‘poomithithal’ (walking on burning coals), and ‘poulozhuguthal’ (where women wear shawls above their heads and burn coal held in it) mark that day.
“No one suffered any injury because of this ritual when Dewi protected us,” said S Shanmugapriya from the village.
About 20 women and 15 people redeem their oath at this year’s festival.
Most of the villagers are farmers and they believe leaving their first harvest from the product of the year at the door of the mosque, before taking it to the market.
Ganeshan from the village said the hole for the fire was prepared around a week before, where they explored a width of about three feet and ten feet wide.
People then fill it with firewood, for a week, and burned in the afternoon before Muharram.
Fire Walk and Poomuzhuguthal were carried out around 2am on Muharram’s day.
This year, the villagers said they prayed that the world became free of Covid.