The Reason Behind Breaking Coconut On Auspicious Occasions

Sign In

TOI

TOI

• home
• lifestyle
• relationship
• food news
• Health+
• style
• visual stories
• trending
• parenting
• soul search
• beauty
• books
• recipes
• travel
• home & garden
• events
• spotlight

• News
• lifestyle
• food-news
• The reason behind breaking coconut on auspicious occasions

TrendingKuno National ParkPlato QuoteAncient Fish SpeciesImmanuel Kant QuoteSaree Shopping IndiaDelhi MetroBaby NamesFyodor Dostoevsky QuoteSocrates QuoteAnne FrankKuno National ParkPlato QuoteAncient Fish SpeciesImmanuel Kant QuoteSaree Shopping IndiaDelhi MetroBaby NamesFyodor Dostoevsky QuoteSocrates QuoteAnne FrankKuno National ParkPlato QuoteAncient Fish SpeciesImmanuel Kant QuoteSaree Shopping IndiaDelhi MetroBaby NamesFyodor Dostoevsky QuoteSocrates QuoteAnne FrankThe reason behind breaking coconut on auspicious occasionsTIMESOFINDIA.COM / May 20, 2022, 16:00 ISTShareAA+Text Size

• Small
• Medium
• Large

Follow us

1/5

Do you know why we smash coconut on auspicious ocassions?

Be it buying a new car or opening a new business, the Hindu tradition of breaking a coconut on auspicious occasions remains the same across India. The act of breaking a coconut is not just a ritual but has a whole emotion attached to it. This ritual is said to attract prosperity and even resolve money-related problems. But do you the historical event connected with this ritual and what is the exact reason behind the practice? Read on to know. (image credits-istock)

2/5

​Coconut as offering

Breaking coconut and offering it to God is a symbolic act of offering oneself to God. The act of breaking coconut during festivals, auspicious occasions, buying new car/land or even starting a new business has been a part of Hindu tradition for ages now.

In South India, a Coconut tree is as auspicious as a Peepal or Neem tree in North India. So much so that it is said that the one who destroys a coconut tree, will himself get destroyed.

Also Read: Early Dinner: A necessity or a misconception?

3/5

​The historical connect

As per mythology, when Lord Vishnu descended on earth he brought Goddess Lakshmi, a coconut tree and the Kamdhenu cow for the welfare of mankind. It is one of the reasons why coconut is considered to be the symbol of the three gods- Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh.

Also Read: Are you food fidgeting? Know what it is and how it’s secretly harming you

4/5

​Reasons behind breaking the coconut

Each step involved in the ‘coconut breaking’ ritual has a deep meaning attached to it.

• In the first step, the husk is torn away from the coconut. This symbolizes the inner wishes and materialistic desires that we need to let go of.
• Next, breaking the coconut by smashing it on the ground symbolizes our ego that we need to break.
• Once the coconut cracks open, coconut water flows out of it. This symbolizes all the negativity inside us that should flow out of the mind and body.
• The soft inner part of the coconut symbolizes peace and is also distributed as prasad among the people.

5/5

​Numerous benefits

Coconut is a good source of healthy fats and is packed with fibre. It helps in aiding digestion and it is even said that eating raw coconut before going to bed can improve heart health.

Not just coconut, its water too contains a treasure of health benefits. From balancing electrolytes to aiding weight loss, coconut water is a low-calorie beverage option to stay hydrated during summer. Coconut water can also boost kidney health, prevent kidney stone formation, reduce joint pain, boost energy levels and even keep a check on blood sugar levels.

For scrumptious recipes, videos and exciting food news, subscribe to our free Daily and Weekly Newsletters.

Follow Us On Social Media

Photostories

• 1
• 2
• 3

Food videos

32:03

32:03

27:30

13:05

16:34

04:34

06:37

03:19

04:48

07:18

08:08

06:47

03:20

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

More Videos

Featured In Food

MORE FROM ETIMES

life & styleImmanuel Kant QuotePlato QuoteMichael Douglas QuoteSocratesAncient Fish SpeciesLiving and entertainmentETimesTravel DestinationsCricbuzz.comTVLifestyleNewspaper SubscriptionFood NewsTimes PrimeWhats HotServicesCouponDuniaTechGigTimesJobsBollywood NewsTimes MobileGadgetsWork with UsColombiaHot on the WebRajpal YadavPlato QuoteAssi ReviewRashmika MandannaBafta Awards 2025 LiveDelhi MetroFunky OTT RelesaeAmitabh BachchanVijay DeverakondaToxic TeaserRaj KundraThe 50 WinnerR MadhavanKiku ShardaHouse Of The Dragon 3 TeaserSalman KhanNeena Gupta'O'Romeo' Box Office CollectionFyodor Dostoevsky QuoteRajinikanth HouseSocrates QuoteRaakshasaRanveer SinghImmanuel KantKuno National ParkEnid BlytonThe 50Border 2 Movie ReviewMichael Douglas QuoteTu Yaa Main Movie ReviewToday Gold Rate in ChennaiDelhi Weather TodayDelhi AQI TodayMumbai AQI TodayMaharashtra Public Holidays 2026Vivo V70 Elite Vs Oneplus 15RAsha SharmaSteve JobsSridhar VembuBill GatesGemini Prompts To Improve Photo QualityTrending TopicsLatest MoviesBollywood MoviesHollywood MoviesTamil Movies 2026Telugu Movies 2026Malayalam Movies 2026Kannada MoviesMarathi MoviesBengali Movies 2026Top Rated Movies 2026Best Hindi MoviesBest English MoviesBest Telugu MoviesBest Tamil MoviesBest Malayalam MoviesBest Kannada MoviesBest Bengali MoviesUpcoming Hindi MoviesBest Movies Of All TimeBest Hindi Movies of All TimeLatest English MoviesLatest Malayalam MoviesEnglish TV NewsTamil TV NewsTelugu TV NewsMalayalam TV NewsKannada TV NewsMovie ReviewsBhojpuri Cinema NewsGujarati Cinema NewsPopular CategoriesViral NewsK Pop NewsWeb Series NewsAnime NewsUpcoming English MoviesUpcoming Tamil MoviesUpcoming Telugu MoviesUpcoming Malayalam MoviesUpcoming Kannada MoviesFashion TipsTravel NewsEntertainment NewsBollywood NewsTollywood NewsKollywood NewsMollywood NewsFood NewsLatest Hindi MoviesLatest Tamil MoviesParenting TipsHome RemediesWeight LossBeauty TipsParenting TipsHindi VideosHindi Video SongsBhojpuri Music VideosLatest Telugu MoviesBhojpuri Music VideoHindi TV NewsLatest NewsJessica Alba steps out with Danny Ramirez on romantic Miami getaway after divorceMichael Jordan left stunned after Tyler Reddick won the second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series race of the seasonNMC proposes mandatory corpus fund for medical colleges; incomplete applications to be rejectedSSC CHSL result 2026 expected to be released soon at ssc.gov.in: Check steps to download and other details hereRoorkee 'blind murder solved' in 5 days: Stranger befriended farmer over liquor, killed him for cash, say cops“Just heartbroken”: Fans revisited J.J. Watt and Rondale Moore's moment after the WR’s sudden deathTrivia and togetherness: Goans are bonding over quiz nightsTrivia and togetherness: Goans are bonding over quiz nightsMarine life recorded 3,800 metres deep on Titanic in the North Atlantic18 dead, several injured in Nepal after passenger bus plunges into river in DhadingThese zodiac signs should be careful during HolashtakDesign tips to make a small apartment look grand and spaciousBAFTA Film Awards: Prince William reveals he's not in 'calm state' after uncle Prince Andrew's arrestFormer TMC leader and 32nd railway minister, Mukul Roy, dies of cardiac arrestFreddie Freeman and Chelsea share heartfelt baby No. 4 announcement as Dodgers prepare for long seasonDonna Langley receives British Academy's highest honour BAFTA Fellowship 2026Eric Dane’s final words to Rebecca Gayheart: 'Never have fallen in love with another woman''Ambushed, blinded by fire extinguisher powder': ABVP claims late-night attack by left groups on JNU campusCopyright © 2026 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication ServiceFollow us on