Kerala HC Refuses to Intervene in Thrissur Pooram’s Elephant Ban

The 54-year-old elephant ‘Ramachandaran’ has been taking part in the Thrissur Pooram festival for some years.

Ramachandran, the 54-year-old elephant pictured here signaling the start of Thrissur Pooram festival by bursting through the southern door of the Vadakumnathan temple.

(Photo: PTI)

The Kerala High Court has refused to intervene in the current ban imposed on the 54-year-old elephant, ‘Ramachandaran’ who has been taking part in the Thrissur Pooram festival for the past few years.

The court was hearing a petition by the Thechikotukavu temple administration, which protested against the government’s ban on the partially-blind tusker, citing public safety reasons. The court decided that the District Collector will have the final say in the matter.

The festival is to be held on 13 May and for the past few years, Ramachandran was a part of tradition; signaling the start of the celebration by bursting through the southern door of the Vadakumnathan temple.

Ban for Public Safety

The ban was imposed on the tusker by Chief Wildlife Warden after he killed two people on 8 February this year.

So far, Ramachandran has trampled 13 people according to unofficial records. According to elephant experts and veterinary surgeons, the elephant is completely blind in one eye and is losing vision in the second one, making him unsuitable for public parades, reports Hindustan Times.This prompted the authorities to ban the jumbo, who is considered to be the state’s tallest elephant and a crowd-favourite.

Damper on Festivities?

The Hindu reports that Elephant Owners Federation’s president P. Sasikumar has alleged that the government was trying to disturb festivals. Earlier the Federation had decided not to send elephants for parading for pooram celebrations, as a mark of protest against the ban. This will impact festivities across temples in the state.

Elephant enthusiasts and Ramachandran’s fans also demand that the ban be revoked in order to follow tradition.

“Pooram is incomplete without the presence of elegant Thechikottukavu Ramachandran,” told PN Nair, one of the elephant’s fans to Hindustan Times.

Angry fans have also accused the government of destroying the Hindu festival. News18 reports that they have also been flooding Thrissur’s district collector TV Anupama’s social media accounts with angry messages.