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When a person died, their body would be given a final ritual bath before the funeral ceremonies. Just like the newborn baby was bathed with water poured from a coconut shell, the same three-eyed coconut shell was used to pour water over the deceased person. It showed that the person was being cared for with the same gentleness as when they were born.
The Breaking of the Coconut
During funeral rituals, coconuts would be broken as part of the ceremony. The breaking carried deep spiritual meaning:
It represented the breaking of the person's connection to earthly life
It was an offering to help the soul move on peacefully
It honoured the person who had passed away
It completed the circle that began at birth
During the Final Rituals
Turmeric and Shikakai applied to different parts of the body
A broken coconut placed near the person
Lamps lit to guide the departing soul
Coconut shell used to pour water for the final bath
From the first gentle bath of a newborn to the final rites of the departed — the coconut witnessed every sacred moment of a Tulu life.