Every April, the tranquil village of Kateel, located near Mangaluru, bursts into life with an ancient and sacred ritual known as Thootedara, or Agni Keli. Held at the revered Sri Durgaparameshwari Temple, this centuries-old tradition brings together villagers from Attoor and Kodettoor in a display of faith, devotion, and fire.

The ritual, which takes place after prayers and the distribution of prasad (blessed food) at the temple, involves a fiery spectacle where participants hurl burning torches made from oil-soaked cloth or dried leaves at each other. While the use of fire may appear dangerous to outsiders, the act is seen as a symbolic battle of faith, rather than a violent conflict. The term "Thootedara" is derived from the Tulu words thooti, meaning a bundle of dry leaves, and dara, meaning fight, which together loosely translate to "battle of torches."

Priests and devotees alike emphasize that Thootedara is far from a chaotic or violent event. A priest from the Sri Durgaparameshwari Temple explained that the ritual is a form of devotion where people from two villages participate in a playful "fight" using fire. “It’s like a game,” he said, adding that after worshiping the goddess, participants receive prasad, and once consumed, they engage in the fire play, which is an essential part of the tradition.

For the villagers of Attoor and Kodettoor, the ritual is more than just an annual event; it is a sewa—a sacred service to Durgaparameshwari Thai Sridevi. Devotee Dayanand shared that participants do not take part out of fear, but rather as a religious duty. “It’s not about fear,” he said. “Every individual who participates considers it a sacred act of service. Before engaging in the ritual, each person follows strict vows, including abstaining from non-vegetarian food, and they observe other religious formalities.”

Despite the fiery nature of the event, it is conducted with tradition and care. Minor burns, often sustained during the ritual, are seen as auspicious, signifying good luck. Participants are immediately treated with kumkum-infused water, a sacred mixture used in Hindu worship for its healing and protective properties. According to devotees, the ritual is not only an act of faith but also a purification process, where they seek the burning away of their sins and divine protection from the goddess.

Thootedara remains a powerful symbol of community and devotion in Kateel. Each year, the fire not only illuminates the night but also ignites the collective spirit of the villagers, bound together by their shared faith and deep-rooted traditions. The ritual continues to be a vibrant testament to the region’s cultural heritage, uniting the people through devotion and the sacred act of fire play.

(Inputs from PTI)

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