Sri Mariammam Temple Singapore
The oldest and most important of Singapore's Hindu Temples, Sri Mariammam is located at 244 South Bridge Road in the Chinatown District. Originally built in 1827 out of wood and attap, the temple's current foundations were laid down in 1843.

The temple was built to worship the Mother-Goddess Devi and the Rain-Goddess Mariammam. Devi is said to be the deity of wealth, and worshippers pray to her to bring health and riches to their families and success to their endeavors. Mariammam guards devotees from sickness and life-threatening fevers such as smallpox and chicken pox.

Inside the doors are decorated with bells and exquisite frescoes are painted on the ceilings. Various Hindu deities are carved into the walls, and numerous shrines that honor the two goddesses of the temple can be seen. There are also many paintings that depict these goddesses.

Every year in October devout Hindu followers participate in the annual fire-walking festival, or Thimithi. Celebrated in honor of the Indian Goddess Draupathi, this festival is said to grant the wishes of true devotees. During this time religious followers work themselves into a deep trance-like state, and walk over rows of burning hot coals in their bare feet. Remarkably, the feet of these worshippers are not charred after this mystical act of devotion, for reasons that are not entirely known.