Anita Dongre Foundation and PETA India Gift Life-Size Mechanical Elephant to Kerala’s Punnakkaparambil Sree Bhadrakali Vishnumaya Temple

Thrissur: Anita Dongre Foundation, established by renowned designer Anita Dongre who advocates leather and wool-free animal-friendly fashion, and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals India (PETA India) have donated a life-size mechanical elephant, Punnakkaparambil Mahadevan, to Punnakkaparambil Sree Bhadrakali Vishnumaya Temple in Thrissur District.
 
Today, on the eve of Vishu, Malayalam New Year, Swamy Madhuranathan Janathapaswi of Santhigiri Ashram, Thrissur unveiled Punnakkaparambil Mahadevan, in the presence of P.K Parmeswaran, Secretary, Punnakkaparambil Sree Bhadrakali Vishnumaya Temple; P.D. Dinesh, Secretary, Punnakkaparambil Kaarthyani Memorial Trust; temple officials and devotees. The mechanical marvel will be used to conduct ceremonies at the temple in a safe and cruelty-free manner, helping real elephants stay with their families in the jungle.
 
The initiative was facilitated by PETA India in recognition of the temple’s compassionate decision to never own or hire live elephants. This new mechanical elephant, Punnakkaparambil Mahadevan, is the 14th mechanical elephant donation in Kerala facilitated by PETA India. With this addition, PETA India has now donated 25 robotic elephants across the country. The mechanical elephant was welcomed through an inauguration ceremony, and a music performance by a group of drummers.
 
“There is something deeply rewarding about working with Punnakkaparambil Sree Bhadrakali Vishnumaya Temple, a space that honours its heritage while placing compassion for all sentient beings at its core,” said designer Anita Dongre, Director of Anita Dongre Foundation. “The elephant, our emblem at the House of Anita Dongre, reflects this philosophy—gentle, intelligent, deeply social, and rooted in matriarchal bonds that centre family and community. Our work has always been about creating in harmony with nature and supporting organisations like PETA India in nurturing a more conscious, compassionate relationship with the natural world.” 
 
Mukesh Sawlani, Director of Anita Dongre Foundation, said, “This initiative reflects the ethos of our brand. We are happy that Punnakkaparambil Mahadevan will allow sacred rituals to continue while helping keep real elephants in their forest homes with their families and ensuring the safety of the temple devotees.”  
 
P.K Parmeswaran, Secretary of Punnakkaparambil Sree Bhadrakali Vishnumaya Temple, said, “We have taken this step with deep respect for our traditions and an equally strong commitment to compassion and safety. The mechanical elephant allows us to preserve the grandeur and symbolism of our rituals without subjecting a living being to stress, confinement, or risk. It also ensures the well-being of our devotees, as festivals can be conducted without the unpredictability associated with live elephants. By embracing this change, we hope to set an example that devotion can evolve, and that true faith is reflected in kindness and responsibility towards all beings.”
 
Elephants are intelligent, active, and gregarious wild animals. In captivity, they are trained to be used in processions through beatings, the use of weapons and force. Most elephants held captive in temples and other places suffer from excruciating foot problems and leg wounds due to chaining to concrete for hours on end. Most are denied adequate food, water, veterinary care, and any semblance of a natural life. Under these hellish conditions, many elephants become intensely frustrated and lash out, sometimes killing mahouts or other humans or animals. According to figures compiled by the Heritage Animal Task Force, captive elephants killed 526 people in Kerala in a 15-year period. Thechikkottukavu Ramachandran, who has been in captivity for about 40 years and is one of the most often used elephants in Kerala’s festival circuit, has reportedly killed 13 individuals – six mahouts, four women, and three elephants.  
 
Mechanical elephants are 3-meter-tall and weigh 500 kilograms. They are made with rubber, fibre, metal, mesh, foam, and steel and run on five motors. A mechanical elephant looks, feels, and can be used like a real elephant. It can shake its head, move its ears and eyes, swish its tail, lift its trunk, and even spray water. They can be climbed upon, and a seat can be affixed on the back. They can be operated simply by plugging and playing with electricity. They can be taken through the streets and are mounted on a wheelbase, allowing them to be moved and pushed around for rituals and processions.