Fire-walking, Avissawell;a, Sri Lanka.

The bed of glowing embers.

Infra-red conversion of above image.

Thermal imaging of first photo

Ready to receive the fire-walker with 'Holy ash' ('Thiru-neeru')

Click link below to see video:-

http://youtu.be/FzJ-NFH-ts4

'Fire-walking', Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Embers from a fire being raked before the 'fire-walking'. The infra-red radiation was intense around the bed of embers.

A rectangular ditch containing milk is poured into the entrance end of the fire-bed.

The Sacred Idol of the reigning Diety - 'Muththumari Amman' is made to look over the embers and is placed at the exit end of the fire-walkers.

An act of fire-walking by a devotee who does this after dipping the feet in the ditch containing milk..

Dipping the feet at the exit end into a mix of saffron and cow-dung.

'Fire-walking' is a religious ceremony practiced in the Indian subcontinent for ages. It falls within the category of self-torture done in religious ecstasy or trance. Self-torture is a part of many religious traditions. Beckett the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury was found to have self-inflicted wounds on his back, after his death at the hands of some Knights of the King's court. The Dervishes and Sufis among the Muslims practise this to this day. Lord Buddha condemned this practice. Going hungry or being seated in one posture could be classified as a mild form of self-torture.

Click link below to see video:-

http://youtu.be/FzJ-NFH-ts4

Flowers, Avissawella, Sri Lanka.

Fruits in their variety, Kaluaggala, Sri Lanka.

Rambuttan vendor - 12 fruits for Rs.100/-.

'Rambuttans' the red and yellow varieties, 'Mangoosteens' and the aphrodisiac 'Durian' for sale.

On the Colombo - Rathnapura road at Kaluaggala and around, these way side stalls do a rollicking business. Vehicles on the highway stop and buy these fruits. 'Durians' cost Rs.250/- upwards. 'Mangoosteens' are 12 for Rs.100/-. All these fruits were not native to Sri Lanka. They were introduced by the Portuguese and Dutch colonial powers, starting from 500 years ago.

At a plant nursery, Meepe, Sri Lanka.

'Thibbatu' - Fruits used in curries.

'Nivithi' leaves used in soups and curries.