I read an article in Der Spiegel about the The centuries old Jarramplas Festival takes place annually every Jan. 19-20 on Saint Sebastian Day,in Piornal, Spain.
People throw Turnips to drive the Demon.
” This year locals expect to use more than 20,000 kilograms (44,092 pounds) of turnips to drive the demon away. Even though the exact origins of the festival are not known, various theories exist including the mythological punishment of Caco by Hercules. It is generally believed to symbolize the expulsion of everything bad.”
I was reminded of the practice of some communities,‘kurumbas’ and certain sections of the ‘24 Manai Telugu Chettiars’ in Tamil Nadu.
They break Coconuts on head!
This practice is prevalent in Karur, Coimbatore and pats of Madurai Districts in Tamil Nadu.
Those who take the vow undergo certain procedures prescribed by the temple or as followed in their families.
There seems to be some cases of injury because the Coconuts are broken forcefully on the Head.
The percentage of injury is relatively low and people continue this practice even to day.
“The annual Adi festival of Sri Mahalakshmi Temple at Mettumahadanapuram in the district was celebrated with the chief priest breaking coconuts on heads of devotees as part of their fulfilment of vow.
More than a thousand devotees had coconut broken on their head while some sustained bleeding injuries in the process.
The event had attracted adverse comments from agencies such as the State Human Rights Commission in the past but the local administration did not intervene because of religious sensitivities involved.
The ritual is part of a two-day annual festival that is the highlight of the temple annals. A majority of the temple’s ‘kudipaadu’ belongs to the ‘kurumbas’ and certain sections of the ‘24 Manai Telugu Chettiars.’
The day began with the ‘Amman’ returning from the ceremonial procession to the temple and the chief priest, A. Periasamy, performed abishekam with the sanctified waters brought from River Cauvery. A traditional lamp was lit on top of the temple flag mast.
As if in a trance, Periasamy stood on a shoe of nails and then started breaking coconuts first on the head of seven elders each from the two main communities.
He went along the main enclosure breaking coconuts on the head of nearly a thousand devotees who undertook the ritual as part of fulfilment of vows. A large number of women participated in the ritual without any fear of injury.
Source.
http://www.spiegel.de/international/a-944565.html
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