Blog 12 of 14
The coconut in India has a very special significance. With its 3 eyes and the tuft at the top, it has an almost a human head like quality and symbolises the individual. So, breaking the coconut is akin to breaking or surrendering the ego. Another belief is that since the coconut provides one with all that is essential for life, the action of breaking it is symbolic of surrendering everything. Again, the custom of presenting a coconut to an honoured guest symbolises giving them or sharing with them all that is yours.
To understand this is to understand the essence of the plant itself. The tree is believed to be of great value everywhere in the tropics because it provides all the essential elements needed to sustain life. Beside food and drink, it offers possibilities of housing, thatching, clothing, containers, oil, brooms, ornaments and furniture to name just a few. And of course, toys and games.
An exceedingly popular game is the coconut shell walk. Coconut-shell walking is a folk game found in countries of Southeast Asia as well as the Pacific islands. It is played using two halved coconut shells to which a rope is attached. The player walks on the shells, by holding the rope between the first two toes, lifting the heels while simultaneously pulling on the rope with the hands to keep balance and lift the shells.
Thus, your toes, heels and hands have to synchronise and work together to keep balance. But that is always the essence of balance, isn’t it?? Syncing aspects of your life so as to walk tall.
Ripples Of Life and Time 