WATCH: Praying to god, India politician runs on burning coal at Odisha festival

• Shubham
• 12 April, 2023

By: Shubham Ghosh

Sambit Patra, national spokesperson of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), never stays too far away from headlines, thanks to controversial remarks, and now he is the news again for some unique act.

On Tuesday (10), Patra was seen running on burning coal as a mark of obeisance at the ongoing Jhamu Jatra, a popular local festival, in Puri district of the eastern Indian state of Odisha.

शक्ति पूजा हमारी सनातन संस्कृति एवं परंपरा का अहम हिस्सा है, पुरी जिले के समंग पंचायत के रेबती रमण गांव में आयोजित यह दण्ड और झामू यात्रा इसी प्राचीन परंपरा का प्रतीक है।

इस तीर्थयात्रा में अग्नि पर चलकर मां की पूजा-अर्चना एवं आशीर्वाद प्राप्त कर, खुद को धन्य अनुभव कर रहा हूँ।… pic.twitter.com/oTciqW61Gj

— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) April 11, 2023

He reportedly walked 10 metres on a burning coal bed.

Patra, who contested the general elections from Puri in 2019 but lost narrowly to the candidate of the Biju Janata Dal, Odisha’s ruling party, later said in a tweet, “Today, I participated in the pilgrimage of Rebati Raman village of Samang panchayat in Puri district, worshipped my mother by walking on fire and took her blessings and wished the villagers happiness and prosperity.”

“In this pilgrimage, I am feeling blessed by walking on the fire and receiving the blessings of the Mother (Goddess Dulan),” he added.

He also attached a video of him walking on the fire bed surrounded by chanting villagers.

The BJP leader also told reporters that he walked on fire for peace and welfare of people in the area.

As per tradition, devotees inflict pain on themselves by walking on fire or piercing nails in their bodies during ‘Jhamu Jatra’ to appease Goddess Dulan so that their desires are fulfilled.