Captive elephants that are paraded at a pooram have their spirit crushed and their will broken. The response to Irinjadapilly “robot” Raman from pooram lovers and devotees alike on social media shows that the public may be ready to envisage a pooram without live elephants.
Both states recently saw moves aiming to decrease the use of elephants in temples, festivals and religious rituals due to the cruelty that they are subjected to during the process.
PETA India organisation has been advocating against the curelty on animals for many years. PETA said the mechanical robot would help in holding events “in a cruelty-free manner”.