Kodagu custom makes your head crack!
During Ponnagala Utsav, devotees break coconuts on their heads.
Mysuru: Anyone familiar with how hard a coconut is to break had to be amazed at what transpired in this little village of Kodagu district on Wednesday. The occasion was the Ponnagala Utsav, an annual festival held in Kakkabe village.
Twelve devotees dressed in saffron seemed to go into a trance before they did the unthinkable. As onlookers winced, they effortlessly broke coconuts on their heads, apparently feeling no pain , in their efforts to please Goddess Pannagalathamme Devi
As thousands of devotees watched in awe, they also ran swords over their heads in keeping with an age old tradition followed during the festival every year.
It is said that Goddess Pannagaalathamme is the sister of Igguthappa, Paaloorappa and Tirunelli Pemmaiah, who came from Kerala to Kodagu.
The brothers reportedly gave two umbrellas to their sister when it rained and so villagers believe umbrellas made of cane too take on the aura of the goddess during the festival. A special leaf brought from Kerala is attached to the umbrella head and worshipped as part of local custom.