Tamil Nadu - Others   

No end in sight to row over coconut-breaking ritual

Staff Reporter

Talks held by officials with devotees fail to break the ice Talks held by officials with devotees fail to break the ice

KARUR: : The second interaction revenue and police officials had with the Kurumba and 24 Manai Telugu Chettiar communities, stakeholders in the Mahalakshmiamman temple at Mettu Mahadanapuram in Karur district, has ended inconclusively.

With devotees remaining indifferent to the officials' idea of breaking coconuts on the ground after symbolically placing them on their heads and the officials unwilling to force the issue beyond a point, it seems the ritual will take place as usual on August 4.

The State Human Rights Commission had urged the district administration, police and the HR&CE to counsel devotees against breaking coconuts on their head — the highlight of the Adi festival — to fulfil their vows.

Every year more than 1,200 devotees from all communities have coconuts broken on their heads, with a few suffering minor injuries. The ritual is observed on the 19th day of the Tamil month Adi.

Following the first round of talks last fortnight, S. Ganesh, Revenue Divisional Officer, Kulithalai, held discussions with devotees and community leaders on Saturday.

On behalf of the Kurumba community, Vadivel and others attended, while the 24 Manai Telugu Chettiars were represented by Chandra Prakash and others.

Temple chief priest Periasamy was also present.

On behalf of the priest and the stakeholders, the meeting was informed that the coconuts are treated to lessen the impact of the blow. The fibre on the outer surface is taken off and the three main veins are scrapped.

The coconuts are kept immersed in water for some time prior to the festival.

The devotees confirmed that only treated coconuts were being used for performing the ritual.

After the first meeting, the devotees had expressed resentment at the "unsolicited interference" in their tradition.

One section objected to the alleged veiled threat to the priest, threatening to hold him criminally responsible for any injury to devotees. They pointed out that nothing untoward had ever happened.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Most applications for inclusion of names in rolls fake, says EC
Annual biriyani festival a feast for gluttons
No end in sight to row over coconut-breaking ritual
Draft electoral roll for Hosur released
Poverty reduction scheme soon in Theni district
Annual biriyani festival a feast for gourmets
Gurudwara to be developed
Doctors appointment fully transparent, says Health Minister

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu