Actor Vedhika donates mechanical elephant to Kannur Temple with PETA India

In a groundbreaking move aimed at promoting animal welfare, actor Vedhika, in association with PETA India, has gifted a life-size mechanical elephant to the Edayar Sree Vadakkumbad Shiva Vishnu Temple in Kannur, northern Kerala. This is part of an ongoing initiative to replace real elephants with mechanical ones in temple rituals, ensuring the safety and well-being of the animals.

The mechanical elephant, named Vadakkumbad Sankaranarayanan, was unveiled on Children's Day by award-winning child actor Sreepath Yan. The temple, which has a longstanding policy of never owning or hiring elephants for its religious ceremonies, now has this innovative addition to its temple rituals. The move is intended to help remove the practice of keeping real elephants in captivity for temple festivities.

Vedhika, expressing her support for the initiative, said, "This innovative step will ensure that temple ceremonies are conducted safely and respectfully without needing real elephants. By embracing this change, we allow these magnificent animals to remain in their natural habitats, living freely with their families."

The temple president, K Narayanan Namboothiri, expressed pride in having the mechanical elephant join their community. "We are honoured to have Vadakkumbad Sankaranarayanan with us, in recognition of all the holy animals who wish to wander the land freely and safely with their loved ones," he added.

The Grama Panchayat president of Kolayad, which falls within the temple's jurisdiction, praised the initiative, saying, "With a mechanical elephant like Vadakkumbad Sankaranarayanan, our old traditions and modern understanding of the needs of elephants can go hand-in-hand. I am delighted that technology allows us to engage in sacred rituals in a way that is safe for both humans and animals."

This donation marks the sixth mechanical elephant gifted by PETA India in collaboration with celebrities. Previous gifts included mechanical elephants presented to other temples across India by actors such as Samyukta Hornad, Adah Sharma, and Parvathy Thiruvothu.

The initiative has garnered widespread support, especially after Kerala's High Court weighed in, acknowledging that the captivity of elephants for commercial and religious purposes has been harmful to the animals.