Think of lost lives, abandon practice of parading elephants in festivals: Swami Chidanandapuri

Swami Chidanandapuri has called for an end to the practice of parading elephants in temple festivals, citing safety concerns and the unscientific nature of such processions. His statement follows a tragic incident at the Manakulangara temple festival in Koyilandy, where two elephants ran amok, resulting in the deaths of three people. He questioned why people do not reflect on human casualties caused by elephants and noted that he has opposed such practices for over 35 years. He also criticized the use of fireworks during festivals due to their environmental impact. As a trustee of the Vengeri Subramanya Swamy temple in Kozhikode, he successfully replaced elephant processions with chariot processions. Additionally, he emphasized the need for sound control in places of worship and political platforms, urging that festivals should promote devotion, scientific awareness, and spiritual growth rather than becoming sites of danger and death.