COCONUT : Fruit Of Lustre
An equally important symbol of the fullness of human life is the coconut. In fact, I peninsular India, where coconut palms grow in abundance along the long coastline, this tree is called Kalpavriksha, or the mythical tree, which grants whatever boon asked for.

The coconut grows plentifully along the coasts of India. Its use in rituals and sacraments is common to all regions. A coconut is given to honour a person or to convey goodwill and blessings. Apart from giving a delightful flavour to many Indian cuisines, the coconut is omnipresent as a fruit of lustre.

The coconut tree offers itself to innumerable uses both utilitarian as well as decorative. The wide fronds are woven together and used for thatching on village huts, the husk of the coconut for fuel, the coir for making mats and ropes. The kernal of the fruit is edible while its water is cool, thirst-quenching and uncontaminated. Coconut oil, derived from this palm, is traditionally used for cooking as well as anointing the body.

The coconut features extensively in marriage, birth and death rituals and prominently at housewarmings. Often used in combination with the full pot and mango leaves, it once again reminds us of the need to make human life a rich experience.

In traditional Indian homes, no gift is complete unless accompanied by a coconut. A teacher is venerated by the gift of a shawl and shrifal, the 'fruit of lustre', as the coconut is termed. A pregnant woman is given a coconut as an auspicious gift. In the absence of idols when conducting various pujas and sacraments, coconuts are often used instead to represent the gods and goddesses of the Hindu pantheon. The coconut is thereafter immersed in the sea or in flowing water.