Garudan Hanging
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Garudan Hanging (Eagle Hanging) is a ritual art form performed in Kali temples of south Kerala, south India. The people who disguised as Garudas (Malayalam: eagles) perform the dance. After the dance performance, the hang-designate dangle from a shaft hooking the skin on his back. In some places, the ritual is performed colorfully with Garudas taken in a procession on bullock carts or boats or hand pulled carts.
The legend is that after slaying Dharika, Kali remained insatiable and thirsty even after killing Dharika. At this time Vishnu, one of the three primal Gods, sent Garuda to Kali to quench the thirst. A dancing and bleeding Garuda was taken to Kali and only after getting some drops of blood from Garuda, Kali was pacified. The ritual is performed based on this belief.