Tradition or Brutality?

Writing this in light of the many recent incidents. Kerala’s temple festivals are a spectacle of color, music, and devotion. But let’s talk about the silent victims—elephants. When did chaining, beating, and parading a wild animal in scorching heat become an act of devotion? The truth is, elephants have no religious significance in Hindu rituals. Nowhere in our scriptures does it say that an elephant must be shackled, blinded by fireworks, and paraded through chaotic crowds to please the gods. This is not culture or ritual, it's plain brutality. We call them “God’s own creatures,” yet we break their spirits for entertainment. We claim to love them, yet we strip them of their freedom, separate them from their herds, and force them into submission with brutal training methods. This isn’t love, it’s sadism disguised as devotion. It’s time to wake up. Festivals can thrive without suffering. Let’s celebrate Kerala’s rich culture without enslaving its wildlife. If we truly respect elephants, we should fight for their right to live, not in chains, not in fear, but in the forests where they belong. Also, I would really love to listen to the point of view of the opposite thought process. A healthy discussion on what warrants this to be out of love rather that's what's expressed in my opinion above.