Indigenous people living in the Kodaikanal hills have been wearing a mask made of herbal leaves after the Tamil Nadu government’s insistence on wearing a face mask to control the spread of corona.
When people living in the city still consider wearing a face mask to be a burden, the tribes of Kodaikanal use a mask made of herbal leaves, living in harmony and peace with nature.
According to Siva, a tribal from Pannaikadu Vadakaraiparai hamlet in Dindigul District, where the practice is common,” We wear facemask based on government’s advise despite the fact that no case of Corona has been reported in our village. The leaves of the Pisilam tree in the forest, according to our forefathers, protect us from viruses.”
He added that wearing a garland made of Pisilam tree leaves and onion will protect their children from the common cold. He further said,” The fragrance of this leaf keeps the lungs and airways clean and we wear it as a face shield when we go outside.”
(with inputs from Dinamalar)
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