Daijiworld Media Network – Davanagere
Davanagere, Feb 25: In a significant gesture promoting ethical treatment of animals, actor Suniel Shetty, in collaboration with PETA India and Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA), presented a life-size mechanical elephant named Umamaheshwara to the Shri Umamaheshwara Veerabhadreshwara Temple in Tavarekere, Karnataka.
This donation follows the temple's progressive decision to avoid owning or hiring live elephants, setting a precedent for cruelty-free traditions. The mechanical elephant will enable the temple to carry out cultural rituals without using real animals, ensuring their protection and well-being.
On Monday, February 24, e mechanical elephant was warmly welcomed with an inauguration ceremony filled with devotion and the rhythmic beats of Mangala Vadhyam. The temple now becomes the first in Davanagere district to embrace such technology, allowing rituals to continue in a safe, humane manner.
The unveiling was attended by several dignitaries and spiritual leaders, including Basavaraju V Shivaganga, MLA for Davanagere constituency, who officially introduced Umamaheshwara. Other notable attendees included Dr Dhananjaya Sarji, range forest officer of Channagiri range, former MLA Shwetha Vishwanath, and K Madal Virupakshappa. Spiritual leaders such as Renuka Shivacharaya Swamiji, head of Shilamatha in Tavarekere, Shri Rachoteshwara Shivacharaya Swamiji, and Dr Abhinava Sidaalinga Shivacharya Swamiji also graced the occasion.
Actor Suniel Shetty expressed his excitement about the project, stating, “Wild elephants are crucial to our environment, helping regulate climate change by dispersing seeds and affecting tree growth. I am proud to collaborate with PETA India and CUPA on this project, which protects elephants and allows us to continue our traditional rituals in a compassionate way.”
Davanagere MLA Basavaraju V Shivaganga praised the initiative, saying, “Umamaheshwara looks indistinguishable from a real elephant. We commend Shri Umamaheshwara Veerabhadreshwara temple for setting this example, and we encourage other temples to follow suit by using mechanical elephants to eliminate the cruelty towards captive elephants.”
Former MLA K Madal Virupakshappa also voiced his support, adding, “The gift of Umamaheshwara is a wonderful alternative as it’s cruelty-free. We hope to see this model promoted nationwide as a means to protect wildlife.”
Renuka Shivacharaya Swamiji, chief swamiji of the Shilamatha, emphasised the significance of the mechanical elephant, saying, “We are delighted to welcome Umamaheshwara, who will ensure that our rituals are performed in an animal-friendly manner. We encourage other temples to adopt mechanical elephants instead of using live animals.”
The mechanical elephant mimics the movements of a real elephant, with features such as a moving head, fluttering ears, blinking eyes, swishing tail, and even a spraying trunk. This lifelike alternative allows the temple to maintain traditional rituals while prioritising the welfare of animals.