Every monsoon season in Krishnagiri, India, location in the subcontinent's southern region, a fascinating religious ceremony takes place for the local devotees involving having a coconut smashed atop of one's head, as seen here on June 8.

The coconut smashed on one's coconut is meant to symbolize pleasing the Lord Shiva, whose three-eyed face is likened to the shape of the coconut. The over-the-head breaking is symbolic of breaking free from your past and surrendering to the higher power.

Some worshippers are injured, but many who are avoid going to a doctor to not incur the wrath of Lord Shiva.

India is full of diversities where every states have its own unique traditions and festivals . Some of the festivals are very unique and bizarre in their nature . One of the Indian state Tamil Nadu celebrates many century old traditions . Every monsoon the Aadi Perukku festival is celebrated , in this festival there are many rituals that are part of it , in one such unique ritual is breaking coconuts on the heads of devotees . Breaking coconuts on the devotees’ head is symbolic of breaking free from your past, and surrendering yourself to God . This breaking of coconuts on the head of the devotes is voluntary decision on the part of the devotees .
Thousand of devotees get line up at the temple for blessings .
During this ritual a priest of the temple holds the head of the devotee sitting and smash the coconut on the head of the devotee , According to some devotees some times there are injuries also to which some rush to doctor for treatment and some don’t go to doctor due to fear from incurring the deity’s wrath .
After every coconut smash there are helpers at temple who put turmeric powder or sacred ash called vibhooti on the head .
According to local people athousands of years ago, devotees used to worship Lord Shiva at this place but the Lord did not appear to them even after the worship.Likening a coconut to the three-eyed face of Lord Shiva, they then started breaking coconuts on their heads to please Lord Shiva after which he is said to have appeared before them. The ritual has continued since.
These visuals are from Chennapalli village next to Hosur in Krishnagiri district in Tamil Nadu . The festival was attended by 21 villagers from around Chennapalli village.