Kodungalloor: Mechanical jumbo Thaleeshwaran will now adorn the grand corridors of the Shiva temple in Nediyathali. The mechanical elephant, which weighs 800 kg and stands three metres tall, was donated by PETA India in association with Bollywood actor Jackie Shroff.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA India), which advocates for the ethical treatment of animals and the protection of endangered species, has donated 11 such elephants. Interestingly, Thaleeshwaran is the seventh mechanical elephant donated by PETA to a temple in Kerala.

Chalakkudy native Prashant built the elephant. After the ritual, Benny Behanan MP visited the temple to see the mechanical elephant. The event was inaugurated by municipal chairperson TK Geetha, while temple president and chief priest Babu Shanti presided over the function.

Municipal councillors KR Jaithran, opposition leader of the municipality TS Sajeevan, Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samiti district general secretary NR Vinod Kumar, temple committee president Nadumuri Babu Shanti, CR Ramachandran and Rajan Kovilparambil also spoke at the event.