Use chariots, spare jumbos, urges Travancore Devaswom Board

Kochi: In a significant move, the Travancore Devaswom Board, managing the largest number of temples in the state, has urged the temples under it to use chariots instead of elephants for the conduct of festivals. The TDB said that if the temples do not own elephants they should not seek financial assistance from the devaswom to hire elephants. A temple that owns an elephant can use the same for the festival, but no financial assistance will be provided for the purpose. There are 1,248 temples under the TDB.

Animal lovers over the years had sought a carpet ban on using elephants for the temple rituals.

The TDB made the submission before devaswom ombudsman Justice R. Bhaskaran. Earlier, the ombudsman had submitted before Kerala high court that it was high time that temples were instructed to use chariots in  place of elephants as part of rituals.

Pursuant to this, the TDB informed the ombudsman that the temple advisory committee which is mainly responsible for the conduct of the festival should decide whether to use an elephant or not. In respect of temples where elephants are available, the pachyderms can be used. But if elephants are not available, the responsibility of hiring elephants must be left to the temple advisory committee.

The burden of payment of additional hire charge should not be imposed on devaswom officials. At the same time, devaswom officials will be allowed to spend the permitted amount which at present is Rs 7,500 per animal which can be handed over to the temple advisory committee.

As per current standards, Rs 7,500 is too meagre an amount to hire elephants. According to experts, the temples will find it hard to meet the expenses unless they are financially sound. At present, more than Rs 50,000 is needed to hire an elephant.