In a significant development, the management committees of Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu Devaswoms, two prominent participants in Kerala’s iconic Thrissur Pooram festival, have taken their case to the Supreme Court, challenging the Kerala High Court’s new guidelines for elephant parades. The High Court’s ruling mandates strict spatial restrictions: elephants must maintain a minimum distance of three meters from each other, five meters from fire sources, and eight meters from both the public and percussion displays.
The Devaswoms argue that these limitations threaten to disrupt the centuries-old festival, especially as the traditional layout of the Vadakkumnathan Temple, a UNESCO-recognized heritage site, cannot accommodate such conditions. They contend that the spatial guidelines would alter the essence of the grand celebrations, which have historically featured 50 to 100 elephants in procession.
The Kerala High Court’s decision comes in response to growing concerns over the welfare of captive elephants during festivals, with reports showing that between 2018 and 2024, 160 elephants, nearly a third of the total elephants in Kerala, died under captivity. The court’s order aims to curb such incidents and promote better treatment of the elephants.
As the Supreme Court prepares to hear the petition, the case has sparked a heated debate between animal welfare advocates and those who argue for the preservation of cultural traditions, highlighting the delicate balance between heritage and humane practices.
