In a first, Kerala temple deploys life-size ‘robotic elephant’ for festival

Notably, the ‘elephant’ has been named ‘Irinjadappilly Raman’ and a ‘Nadayiruthal’ ceremony (a ritual offering elephants to the deity in Kerala temples) was also conducted. And Raman was caparisoned for the ceremony, just like elephants during festivals.

PETA said the elephant model, fitted with five powerful electric motors, will help the temple conduct ceremonies safely and cruelty-free, thereby supporting the call for rehabilitation of captive elephants.

In Kerala, elephants are an integral part of temple festivals.

The robotic elephant can carry five persons at a time and the mahout (operator here) can control its trunk using a switch. The mechanised elephant was made by a group of artists in Thrissur, who have been supplying elephant statues for the Dubai Shopping Festival.

Temple priest Rajkumar Namboothiri said the temple authorities were happy to receive the mechanical elephant. “We hope other temples will also think about replacing elephants with robotic elephants for their rituals,” he said.

Namboothiri said the temple, run by a family, used to hire elephants for the festivals in the past. “In the last few years, the temple has stopped that practice considering the high cost of getting a pachyderm and the growing incidents of elephants turning violent during festivals.

Some captive elephants such as ‘Thechikkottukavu Ramachandran’ have a huge fanbase on social media platforms as well.

But when we heard that a group of artists had constructed elephant statues for Dubai (shopping festival), we met them and asked to make one as per our suggestions and modifications. Then PETA India, which is working against cruelty towards animals, stepped in with sponsorship. We think more temples in Kerala would go for robotic elephants,’’ he said.

In Kerala, elephants are an integral part of temple festivals. Temple committees, particularly those in Thrissur and Palakkad districts, vie with one another during the festival season to hire imposing elephants, which come with a costly price tag. Some captive elephants such as ‘Thechikkottukavu Ramachandran’ have a huge fanbase on social media platforms as well.

There are WhatsApp groups dedicated to favourite elephants. Animal lovers have time and again raised their voice against parading of caparisoned elephants along roads for hours together during temple and other ceremonies.