Why elephants for temple events? Gujarat Rath Yatra chaos revives old debate

India Today

2 days ago

On June 27, the Jagannath Rath Yatra in Ahmedabad, drawing some 1.5 million devotees every year, descended into chaos when three elephants, integral to the annual ceremonial procession, ran amok in the crowded Khadia area. The trigger was loud music and whistle-blows that prompted a 14-year-old male elephant to break barricades and charge into a narrow lane, two panicking female elephants in tow.A viral video captured mahouts struggling to restrain the animals as people ran for cover, one elephant veering directly towards the crowd. Police, zoo officials and forest staff acted swiftly, tranquilising the male elephant within 15 minutes and herding away the female elephants.advertisementThere were no fatalities but two people, including a woman police officer, suffered minor injuries. The male elephant was isolated and relocated to the Jagannath Temple Trust's farmhouse in Pirana, with assistance from Vantara, a wildlife welfare initiative led by Anant Ambani; the remaining 14 elephants from the Rath Yatra continued the 16-km-long procession.In routine veterinary checks conducted ahead of the yatra, the male elephant had showed signs of psychological distress, such as swaying and head bobbing, possibly triggered by environmental stressors—loud music and dense crowds—common in urban festival settings.
Elephants, highly intelligent and social, are sensitive to noise and confinement. A 2019 study by the Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology in Hyderabad found that captive elephants exhibited elevated stress hormones in long, tiring religious ceremonies, leading to hyperglycemia (raised blood sugar levels), suppressed immune responses and neuronal cell death. Such conditions, exacerbated by chaining and prolonged work, as possibly was the case in Ahmedabad, can cause unpredictable behaviour, posing risks in crowded environments where escape routes are limited.advertisementPETA India, in a statement, warned of the inherent risks of forcing elephants into noisy and crowded environments, and underlined that the incident in Ahmedabad could easily have resulted in mass casualties.In India, elephants are revered in Hindu tradition. They symbolise wisdom, strength and divine connection, particularly associated with Lord Ganesha. Their use in temple processions, such as the Rath Yatra or those in Kerala, adds grandeur and spiritual significance. These traditions are rooted in centuries-old customs wherein elephants even carry deities or lead chariots.Temples around the country maintain captive elephants. Animal activists say they are often sourced from the wild despite a 1977 ban on captures, using loopholes allowing for 'gifting' of animals. These elephants are typically kept in chains, subjected to harsh training with bullhooks, and forced to endure long hours in noisy, crowded settings. This leads to foot injuries and psychological distress, including symptoms akin to post-traumatic stress disorder, as observed in African elephants after habitat loss.Underscoring the dangers, the Heritage Animal Task Force, an animal welfare body, reported 540 human deaths in Kerala between 2007 and 2024 from incidents of elephants running amok at festivals.In 2024, at least 14 incidents were reported across India in which captive elephants turned violent. In the first few months of 2025, over 20 captive elephants used in religious processions in Kerala became distressed and aggressive, resulting in six human deaths and numerous injuries. In January, Pakkath Sreekuttan, a stressed male elephant, injured 24 people and killed one during a Kerala festival. In May, at the Thrissur Pooram, two elephants caused chaos, injuring 42 people.advertisementBack in 2013, Thechikottukavu Ramachandran, maintained by a Kerala temple and famous as the tallest captive elephant in India, had killed three women at a temple festival. The tusker had previously been banned on account of similar behaviour. These tragedies stem from elephants' inability to cope with unnatural environments, far removed from their ideal habitats of sprawling forests or savannas and water, and minimal human interference.Experts advocate alternatives such as mechanical elephants, pioneered by PETA India. These life-like robots, capable of mimicking elephant movements, have been adopted by at least 19 temples in South India; ten of these were donated by PETA India.The mechanical elephants, made of rubber, steel and fibre, are three metres tall and weigh 800 kilos. 'They can lift their trunks, flap ears, swish tails, and carry idols or individuals for ceremonial purposes. Mounted on a wheelbase and powered by electricity, they can be easily moved through processions without causing suffering or endangering lives,' noted the PETA statement.advertisementOne such elephant, Devi Dasan, was launched this March at the Sree Balabhadrakali temple in Thiruvananthapuram. Experts argue that such innovations eliminate animal suffering while preserving ceremonial authenticity.Following the Rath Yatra incident, PETA India appealed to the Gujarat government for a policy decision to prohibit the use of elephants in public processions and offered to donate life-size mechanical elephants free of cost to any temple of the government's choosing so long as the temple pledged never to own or hire living elephants.Other suggestions include stricter regulations on elephant use, mandatory rest periods for the animals and sanctuaries for rehabilitation, as proposed by PETA India after a 2024 incident wherein an elephant killed a mahout. These measures prioritise safety and compassion, addressing the ethical and practical challenges of using elephants in India's religious traditions.Subscribe to India Today Magazine- EndsMust Watch