Click to play videoKarur (Tamil Nadu): To please the goddess in Tamil Nadu's Karur district, you need to have a tough head and an ambulance waiting nearby.
In Mahadhanapura, Karur, thousands of devotees gather at the Mahalaxmi temple for a unique ritual. One that involves breaking kilos of coconuts on the heads of devotees.
"Since I did this last year, my business is doing well. And my parents are healthy," a trader, Ilavarasan said.
Periyasamy is a priest who walks on footwear made of nails. He's also the man who fires the coconut ammunition. In divine frenzy, he breaks the coconuts on people's heads. And then the broken pieces are distributed as prasadam to the devotees.
"A thrill goes down my spine! Personally, I can only feel the coconut touch my head. No pain. It's the goddess's power," festival organiser, Subramaniam said.
The Human Rights Commission had once appealed to the temple authorities to just place the coconut on the heads and then break them on the ground.
But the temple authorities have proved tough nuts to crack.
But, they do follow one rule: Strictly only those above 18 years of age are allowed.
"Oh, what's there to be afraid? I've been praying for ages to the Goddess, she will take care of me," a devotee, Rukmini said.
And in case the Goddess is busy saving someone else, then some quick first aid will help.
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