The Puttingal fireworks accident appears to have triggered a trend with a few temples opting to relinquish their years-old practice of parading elephants and bursting firecrackers during festivals.
The Major Devaswom Sree Mahadeva temple at Kadinamkulam, where up to 18 elephants used to be paraded during annual festivals till last year, used only a single elephant when the idol of the presiding deity was taken out in a procession a week ago.
The office-bearers of the temple have decided to avoid elephants completely from next year, by when an alternative arrangement would be adopted to carry the idol.
“We have been pondering over this for a long while. The Tantri (chief priest) has been an ardent advocate of preventing cruelty to elephants. He was of the view that elephants were not linked to temple rituals in any manner. There was consensus that it was inhumane to subject elephants to such merciless torture to add to the grandeur of the festival,” said V. Vijayakumar, general convener of the temple committee.
The decision to avoid elephants and firecrackers will be ratified by the temple committee at its meeting to be attended by Travancore Devaswom Board members. The committee intends to utilise funds for such purposes for philanthropic activities.
On palanquin
The Koyikkal Palliyara Bhagavathy temple at Kumarapuram replaced elephants with a decorated wooden palanquin to carry the idol during procession, besides avoiding firecrackers.
The ‘ezhunnallathu’ and ‘parayeduppu’ rituals held on Monday witnessed milestone changes.
Even while it is premature to view such decisions as a sign of things of come, animal rights activists have welcomed the move.
Move welcomed
Manilal Valliyate, member, Kerala State Animal Welfare Board, and Director of Veterinary Affairs, PETA India, felt that the decision of the temples would set a humane model for others to follow.
“An abused elephant cannot be expected to bless a person. Surely he or she would only curse! How can we justify keeping a representation of Lord Ganesha miserable and in chains? Temples can instead use statues or other forms elephant models. Festivals can only be happy and safe if they do not cause sufferings to another being,” Dr. Valliyate remarked.
