According to Hindu legend, Garuda is a half-man, half-bird figure that carries Lord Vishnu. In the epic Ramayana, Garuda's son helped Hanuman and Lord Rama in the battle to free Sita from the demon king Ravana.
There's a great deal of demand for performers dressed as Garuda in Kerala, where a ritual known as Garudan Thookam is popularly undertaken as a way to worship the devine goddess. During the ritual, the performer -- with face painted green, and body complete with attached wings and red beak -- undertakes a special dance. Following this, he strategically inserts a metal hook into his back and swings from a connected rope, wings outstretched. The blood that the performer sheds is viewed as an offering to the goddess.
