5 Most Horrific Rituals Of South India

1.BANI FESTIVAL -ANDHRA PRADESH

The Bani Festival is celebrated at the Devaragattu Temple in the Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh. Every Dusshera, hundreds of lathi -wielding devotees from Andhra and Karnataka gather at this temple to hit each each other on the heads at midnight! According to the temple priest, this festival has been celebrated for over a 100 years, and earlier axes and spears were used instead of lathis. The festival goes on till dawn.

2.THEEMITHI (WALKING ON FIRE) –TAMIL NADU

Originating in Tamil Nadu, the practice of Theemithi has spread to Sri Lanka, Singapore and South Africa as well. Theemithi is part of a larger ceremony stretching over a two-and-a-half month period where parts of the Mahabharata is re-enacted, totalling up to 18 distinguishable rites. The festival of Theemithi is a celebration of Draupadi, wife of the Pandavas. After the Battle of Kurukshetra, Draupadi walked across a bed of fire and emerged as fresh as a flower. Theemithi is a re-enactment of the same, and is believed to grant a wish or blessing by the goddess.

3.JALLIKATTU –TAMIL NADU

Jallikattu is a part of Pongal celebrations. Jallikattu bulls are raised wild and special care is taken to feed and exercise them, so they develop into sturdy beasts fit for fighting. Hundreds of men chase the bull, trying to snatch the prize from its horns. In the past two decades, over 200 people have died indulging in this dangerous sport. In May 2014, the Supreme Court of India banned Jallikattu.

4.GARUDAN THOOKAM (HANGING BY HOOKS) –KERALA

This ritual art form performed in Kerala's Kali temples is as fascinating as it as shocking. Dancers dress up as Garuda, the vehicle of Lord Vishnu who quenched the goddess Kali's thirst with blood after slaying Darika the demon. After the dance performance, they hang like eagles (Garudan Thookam) from a shaft, by hooking the flesh on the backs! These hanging ' Garudas ' are taken around the city in a colourful procession. This ritual is carried out on Makara Bharani Day and Kumbha Bharani Day.

5.AADI FESTIVAL (SMASHING OF COCONUT ON HEAD) –TAMIL NADU

Every year, on the 18 th day of the Tamil month of Aadi, thousands of devotees flock the Mahalakshmi Temple, Mettu Mahadhanapuram, in the Karur District of Tamil Nadu, to willingly allow the priest to smash coconuts on their heads for good luck and health. During the British Raj the british wanted to bulid railway track across the temple but the village was against it. To test the devotion of the villagers the Britishers dug out 187 coconut shaped stones from the location of the temple and asked the villagers to break those stones on their head. The deal was made as such that if the villagers succeeded in doing as the Britishers said the course of the railway line would be changed.The villagers succeeded and the temple was saved. The tradition has been followed till date, despite warnings by medical practitioners.