Kundam Festival

BannariMaari Amman temple is located near Sathyamangalam, a small town named Bannari in Erode. The Gundamfestival, is famous for its theemidhi (firewalking ceremony). It is one of the few shrines in Tamil Nadu where the devotees descend on the Gundam. Albeit the festival happening in Erode, this auspicious ceremony and festivities are also attended by people from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala. Bannari Amman’s Gundam festival is celebrated with high spirits, by people of all ages. Now, let us delve in-depth into what the Gundam festival is. The fire is kindled in the Gundam and the devotees perform the theemidhi (fire walk) ceremony. Agni Gundam or the fire pit practices are considered to be effective by most of the devotees because they are done as a penance to calm the apoplectic goddesses, who are often the avatars of Kaali, Durga and Amman. The Gundams are also done for the gods – Karuppanna Swami, Iyanaar Swami, Muneeswaran Swami, Poi Solla Mei Aiyanaar, and a lot more of the Guardian deities we worship. The Gundam festival is held annually during the month of Panguni (March – April). The BannariMaari Amman Gundam festival starts with the early morning Ganapthihomam done by the chief priest. The homam is always performed between 3:00 and 5:30 in the morning. As the rituals are carried out in the dense forest near Sathyamangalam, it is easier for the devotees to collect the wooden logs needed for the ceremony. The worshippers receive the holy water (theertham) after the Ganapathihomam. People who worship the Bannari Amman, firmly believe that their prayers will come true once the fire is lit in the Gundam. The Gundam festival revolves around the five elements of nature – Earth, Water, Wind, Fire and Sky. Every single element is honoured by being used in the puja for Amman at specified times of the day. Turmeric water is considered as the water element, while incense flowers are seen as wind element and temple bells as the air element. The fire element is the main of the five because the main ritual involves fire walking. Once the deity is calmed, and bathed in sandal water, the sky element comes in. Due to the Pandemic since 2019 December, the Gundam Festival was put on a halt for two years. In 2022, with the witty planning of the Government of Tamil Nadu, the execution of this festival was successful. The Gundam festival was conducted on 22nd March 2022, which was also declared as a local holiday by the authorities. Tens and thousands of devotees perform the fire walk ritual as a part of the festival. Specials buses from Coimbatore and Mysuru were authorized and operated by Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Limited.