
India: Coconuts SMASHED on devotees' heads at Aadi Perukku holy festival
Over 800 devotees had coconuts smashed over their heads by a priest in the annual Hindu-Tamil festival of Aadi Perukku in Mettu Mahadanapuram, Tuesday. The event, which is a celebration of the life-sustaining properties of water, is part of a two day festival which attracts worshippers from across southern India.
Medical teams were on hand stitch up head wounds for those that had been injured in the ritual, although the injured often refrained from seeking medical help, preferring to apply turmeric on the open wounds, in an effort not to offend the gods.
The event has attracted condemnation from Tamil Nadu's State Human Rights Commission.

Over 800 devotees had coconuts smashed over their heads by a priest in the annual Hindu-Tamil festival of Aadi Perukku in Mettu Mahadanapuram, Tuesday. The event, which is a celebration of the life-sustaining properties of water, is part of a two day festival which attracts worshippers from across southern India.
Medical teams were on hand stitch up head wounds for those that had been injured in the ritual, although the injured often refrained from seeking medical help, preferring to apply turmeric on the open wounds, in an effort not to offend the gods.
The event has attracted condemnation from Tamil Nadu's State Human Rights Commission.