Chennai temple gets mechanical elephant; donors include a Bollywood actor and son

PUDUCHERRY: Bollywood actor Sonu Sood, his son Ayaan Sood, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) India and People for Cattle in India (PFCI) have donated a life-size mechanical elephant – Airavatham -- to Sri Sakthi Vinayagar Temple at Avadi in Chennai.

Ordnance Clothing Factory chief general manager B S Reddy unveiled Airavatham in the presence of temple chairman S S Murugan and temple devotees. The mechanical elephant would be used to conduct ceremonies at the temple safely, “helping real elephants stay with their families in the jungle,” said Sanskriti Bansore of Peta in a release.

The initiative was facilitated by Peta and PFCI in recognition of the temple’s compassionate decision to never own or hire live elephants. This is the second mechanical elephant donation in Tamil Nadu after one was donated to the Sri Ashtalinga Athisesha Selva Vinayagar and Sri Ashtabhuja Athisesha Varahi Amman temples in Aruppukottai last year. Peta has so far facilitated the donation of 21 robotic elephants across the country.

Mechanical elephants are three-metre-tall and weigh 500 kg. They are made of rubber, fibre, metal, mesh, foam and steel and run on five motors. A mechanical elephant looks and 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 in 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.

Sonu Sood said, "Temples are places of compassion, faith and humanity. When devotion and kindness walk together, divinity shines. I am grateful to support the gifting of this mechanical elephant, Airavatham, so that sacred traditions can continue without causing suffering to any living being. May this initiative bring blessings to devotees and freedom to the elephants.”

Ayaan Sood, winner of Peta India’s Compassionate Youth Award, said, “I feel honoured to be part of gifting Airavatham to Sri Sakthi Vinayagar Temple. By supporting this initiative, we are helping ensure that sacred ceremonies continue safely and compassionately, while elephants remain free in their natural homes with their families.”