Actor Vedhika, PETA India gift mechanical elephant to Kannur temple

Actor Vedika became the sixth celebrity, in association with Peta India, to donate a life-size mechanical elephant to a temple.
Edayar Sree Vadakkumbad Shiva Vishnu Temple, in Kannur, in northern Kerala, got a life-size mechanical elephant, named Vadakkumbad Sankaranarayanan, on Thursday.
This mechanical elephant was gifted to the temple in recognition of its decision of never owning, or hiring elephants for its rituals.
Sankaranarayanan was unveiled on Children’s Day by award-winning child actor Sreepath Yan. The mechanical life-size elephant will be used for temple ceremonies, helping remove real elephants from a captive-like habitat, under temple premises.
Stating she was honoured to be part of this “meaningful initiative”, Actor Vedhika 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 said the temple was happy to have the mechanical elephant join the temple family. “In honour of all the holy animals who wish to wander the land freely and safely with their loved ones, we are honoured to have Vadakkumbad Sankaranarayanan with us,” he added.
The Grama Panchayat president of Kolayad, within the limits of which the temple comes, said: “With a mechanical elephant like Vadakkumbad Sankaranarayanan, our old traditions and modern understanding of the needs of elephants to live with their families in their jungle homes can go hand-in-hand. I am delighted technology allows devotees to engage in sacred rituals in a way that is safe for both humans and animals.”
Peta India has already donated five other mechanical elephants to different temples, in association with various celebrities.
In September, actor Samyukta Hornad presented a mechanical elephant named Niranjana to the Sri Siddalingeshwara Swamy Temple in Tumkur, Karnataka.
In June, actor Adah Sharma, of Kerala Story fame, donated a mechanical elephant named Baladhasan to the Pournamikavu Temple in Thiruvananthapuram.
Parvathy Thiruvothu also supported a mechanical elephant, named Irinjadappilly Raman, given by Peta India after Irinjadappilly Sree Krishna Temple pledged not to keep or hire live elephants or any other animals for rituals, festivities, or any other purpose.
Kerala High Court, too, weighed in on the matter of keeping elephants captive. The High Court observed that captive elephants were commercially exploited in the name of tradition and religious practice.