MECHANICAL ELEPHANT UNVEILED AT DAVANAGERE TEMPLE

MECHANICAL ELEPHANT UNVEILED AT DAVANAGERE TEMPLE
Davanagere, Karnataka – February 24, 2025
A life-size mechanical elephant, Umamaheshwara, was unveiled at the Shri Umamaheshwara Veerabhadreshwara Temple in Davanagere, Karnataka. The initiative, sponsored by the Thackersey Group, aims to promote cruelty-free temple practices.
The mechanical elephant, gifted by actor Suniel Shetty and NGOs PETA India and CUPA, will be used for temple ceremonies, replacing live elephants.
“We are thrilled to welcome Umamaheshwara to our temple,” said Shri Renuka Shivacharya Swamiji, head of the Shilamatha temple. “This mechanical elephant will ensure our rituals are performed in the safest, most animal-friendly manner.”
The move is seen as a significant step towards reducing animal cruelty in temple practices. “Wild elephants are seed dispersers and help regulate climate change,” said Suniel Shetty. “For the sake of elephant welfare and the Earth, I am thrilled to support this initiative.”
The mechanical elephant is part of a growing trend in India, with at least 13 temples adopting similar alternatives to live elephants.
Photo caption: Umamaheshwara, the mechanical elephant, unveiled at the Shri Umamaheshwara Veerabhadreshwara Temple in Davanagere, Karnataka.