The elephants lined up for the 'Kudamattam'. Photo: Unni KottakkalUpdated with reader inputs
For the next 36 hours, all roads will converge at Thrissur for the annual Pooram festival and all eyes will be on the 30 elephants that will be decked up in the best of finery. Even though the organizers say that they have all plans in place to ensure the elephants do not suffer from the scorching summer sun, the debate has picked up again. Is it fair to allow these gentle beasts to stand under the sun for hours together and suffer for the sake of traditional festivities and culture?
Sunday, 10.04.2016: 3.30am
A night of celebration at Puttingal Temple, Kollam turns into a nightmare as fireworks explode killing more than 100 on the spot and leaving about 300 injured. Rescue operations begin. Spreads a pall of gloom across the country. Leaders including Prime Minister arrive at the scene, promise support and aid. This raises concern about the conduct of Thrissur Pooram. More on Puttingal disaster here
Tuesday, 12.04.2016
The High Court orders strict enforcement of provisions of the Explosives Rules 2008, restricting the use of high-decibel crackers between sunset and sunrise. The Forest Department sets down strict rules including maintaining a 4 meter distance between elephants at the parade.
Wednesday, 13.04. 2016
A joint meeting of the office bearers of all 10 devaswoms including Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi decide to hold the world famous, UNESCO recognised Thrissur Pooram with minimal celebrations - no fireworks, just two elephants from either side - to mark the ritual.
Thursday, 14.04.2016
The government, which is going to polls next month, intervenes. The minister asks the Forest Department to issue 'more practical' orders to ensure that the festival goes on in keeping with the 'traditions'. Read More
Friday, 15.04.2016
The chief minister promises that Pooram will be held in the 'best possible way.' Read more
And with that the stage is set for yet another Thrissur Pooram. With the caparisoned elephants, the fireworks and crowds, and nothing dampening the festive spirit that makes it one of the 'most spectacular festivals on the planet' according to UNESCO. The 30 caparisoned elephants lined up is one of the most important elements that add to the awe factor.
When 30 elephants come face to face
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Thrissur Pooram: This is just a sample
Every year, the two major devaswams - the Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi - organise a an exhibition of the decorations. This is a look at the decorations the Paramekkavu elephants will be decked up in. Photo: Unni Kottakkal.
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Thrissur Pooram: This is just a sample
A couple of makeshift 'gopurams' have been put up around the Round at Thrissur. When they were illuminated at night. Photo: Unni Kottakkal
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Thrissur Pooram: This is just a sample
The 'sample vedikkettu' took place after 8pm on Friday. Photo: Unni Kottakkal
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Thrissur Pooram: This is just a sample
Fireworks set off against the backdrop of a temporary structure put up for Thrissur Pooram. Photo: Jeejo John.
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Thrissur Pooram: This is just a sample
This year, following the tragedy at Puttingal, strict measures have been adhered to. Both the devaswoms have agreed to reduce the noisy fireworks and concentrate more on the visual impact. Photo: Jeejo John.
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Thrissur Pooram: This is just a sample
The stage is set for the annual Thrissur Pooram festival. And as usual, the sample fireworks was held on Friday. Photo: Unni Kottakkal
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Fifteen elephants line up for the Paramekkavu Devaswom and 15 for the Thiruvambadi group. The most handsome, well behaved tuskers are selected through a process by the two major devaswoms. This year, Shivasundaran will carry the idol for Thiruvambadi and Padmanabhan will carry the idol for Paramekkavu. And then, there are the 28 other elephants, each as handsome as the other.
The organisers say
'It is the best of elephants, which will be paraded at the Pooram', says Unni, one of the organizers of the festival. Most of them, he says are loaned out by the owners for the festival. And this year, the Animal Husbandary Department and the District Panchayat have come together, to ensure that care is at hand for the pachyderms which will participate in the festival. A group called ALERT, (All Level Elephant Response Team) will provide every possible medical attention by vets at all times to the elephants during the festival.
Elephant owners say
According to the general secretary of the Kerala Elephant Owners Federation, all care is taken and the elephants are groomed to look their best for the Pooram. The heat is a concern, he adds. Just providing wet gunny bags and watering the place where the elephant stands is not enough. 'Unlike what many people think, these elephants are trained to be among a crowd in a festival ground. There, however is a bit of apprehension because the animal respond in strange ways', he adds.
'Look at their feet'
Dr Manilal Valliyate, director of veterinary affairs at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, says that an elephant belongs to the wild. 'They live in herds, they have strong family bonds and that is how it should be. An average wild elephant walks for over 12 hours, foraging for food, but a captive elephant, is in chain for most of its life. A slight change, a unwelcome external stimuli, all these will make them violent, and then all of us know that it turns ugly – both for the animal and men around', he says.
Also read: Elephant refuses to pose for selfie, gores man's thigh
'We did a series of investigations after Thrissur Pooram last year and discovered that many of the elephants which were paraded were unfit. Some were partially blind and others had deep wounds in their body', he says. He adds that a black substance was stuck over the wounds so that people, even if they came near, would not notice the injuries. 'Moreover, he adds, 'the elephant will be decked up in all the finery and we, humans do not look beyond what is shown to us - into the eye of the animal.'
'Imagine standing in the hot sun for more than two hours with your legs chained together, crowd all around you, the tempo of the percussion instruments rising and falling – and then ask yourself if you would like to be in that situation. Some traditions need to change, and it is about time, he adds.
Vox populi
The tragedy at Puttingal has finally brought the debate of traditions vs safety to the forefront, and that is a welcome change says Pradeep, a Thrissur native. 'We, my family that is, including my two daughters, feel sorry that these elephants have to stand in the hot sun for more than two hours. But then, of late there are a lot of youngsters who are against this tradition and they voice their dissent on social media. Also read: Pooram: Enchanting and nostalgic
Harikrishnan, an auto driver, however feels different. 'Thrissur Pooram is all about Thrissur's cultural identity. I grew up seeing and hearing stories about it, I want my child to cherish it too. Elephants, fireworks – everything. Tradition is tradition', he says, as he collected the money, his face annoyed.
The four doors at Vadakkumnatha Temple
In an interview to Indian Express, Dr Abraham Cheeran, a noted veterinary doctor said that elephants need to drink enough water so that they will be hydrated during the festival.
So, what do you feel? Should these elephants be paraded or not? Let us know.
Mathew Boby Paraparambil, one of our readers, had a couple of valuable inputs, here is what he had to say: 'I am Mathew Boby from Pampady, Kottayam. (The home town of Pampady Rajan) I feel so proud of the elephant (Pampady Rajan) and am a fan of his.
Thrissur Pooram is not just a regular festival, it has help put the state on the world map. Being a Christian, I love Thrissur Pooram- and I know there are others like me. It also attracts a lot of foreigners and it is a part of world heritage.
I believe Thrissur Pooram earned these credits through the traditions it followed for a long time. I saw the comments of experts about the elephants' misbehavior. I have a suggestion on the matter. Am not an expert but I believe a suggestion would do no harm.
The elephants' misbehavior is caused due to the exposure to the hot sun and the sounds all around it. I hope we can find some solutions for this and make some precautions rather than avoiding the whole thing. The place where the elephants are lined up can be treated in such a way to create a micro climate in that space. The barricade with maximum acoustic treatments (or acoustic barricade) should be provided around the space from people to reach near the elephants. This would control the excessive sound to reach the mammal to a certain level. I don't believe that some wet racks alone can make the elephants feel cool in that hot sun. Through a thorough research, we can find a way to air condition the space.
To make all this happen. The place should be well organised and crowd control should be effective. Some things are easy to write and speak of, but to execute it is the real task. It is more simple to stop something,but to make something happen is the hardest part. The great things that happen are marked in history whereas stopping it will vanish in time. So please don 't try to stop the great festival but please use all the knowledge we have to make things happen. We have learnt the possibilities of mishap by time. All we have to make is effective precautions, not stop the whole thing.
