Uncertainty over festival ends: Govt allows parading of Kerala’s tallest captive elephant

Thrissur district collector T V Anupama said the elephant would be allowed to be paraded under strict conditions. The elephant’s owner, Thechikkottukavu Devaswom at Thrissur’s Peramangalam, has been told to ensure the presence of four mahouts. Barricades will also be raised to keep people away from the animal. The parading time, beginning at 9.30 am on Sunday, has been reduced by one hour.

Ramachandran has for eight years performed the ceremonial opening of the gate of Vadakkumnathan temple, marking the beginning of the festival. Thousands used to watch the elephant open the gate. Ramachandran will perform the ceremonial opening again on Sunday.

The pachyderm has been kept away from shows and festivals since February after it ran amok and killed two people, raising the tally of its victims to 13. An expert committee, formed by the forest department, had recommended to restrict the use of the animal for festivals to ensure the safety of public and mahouts.

Elephant owners have since mounted pressure on the government by threatening to boycott the pooram. In the face of a social media campaign to lift the ban on Ramachandran, State Forest Minister K Raju had last week said the elephant, which has a vision problem, could not be allowed to perform at the Pooram in view of public safety.

However, a PIL was moved in the High Court seeking a direction to the Thrissur district collector not to prevent the parading of Ramachandran at the pooram. The court Friday directed that the collector can take a final decision on the issue. The collector ordered an examination of the elephant by a team of veterinary doctors, who on Saturday gave clearance for the parade.