Devotees honour to ‘the mother’
Dressed in colourful traditional Hindu attire, devotees gathered to host a prayer for the mother, in Actonville, on Sunday.
Roy Naidoo, a priest from the Sai Centre in Actonville, explained that the word “mother” is used to described all the deities that are worshipped.
He said devotees began preparations for the prayer from May 1, by abstaining from meat or any symbolism that one deems important for 10 days.
The mother’s prayer symbolises honouring the mother and includes walking on burning coal.
Such an occasion usually draws a big crowed of devotees and spectators from all over South Africa.
Devotees begin by placing offerings to the mother in a shrine.
These include sour milk, sweet meat, saris, rose water and various types of fruits
Colourful flowers were also placed on statues depicting the deities – this is done to beautify the mother.
Devotees then walked to a ground, carrying their offerings on their heads, and a ceremony commenced where some devotees were pierced on different parts of their bodies.
The coal walking ceremony started with Naidoo, as the priest, being the first to walk on burning coals and the devotees then followed.
