“Kerala: PETA India’s selective activism faces backlash, donates mechanical elephant to Thrissur Temple”, Organiser, February 6, 2025:
“In a move that raises questions about selective activism, PETA India, along with sitarist Anoushka Shankar, has donated a life-size mechanical elephant named Kombara Kannan to the Kombara Sreekrishna Swami Temple in Thrissur.
This donation comes in recognition of the temple’s decision to never own or hire live elephants, a tradition deeply rooted in Kerala’s temple culture. Unveiled by Satish Vimalan, Secretary of Unnayi Variyar Memorial Kalanilayam, the mechanical elephant will now be used in temple ceremonies.
Despite claims of being “cruelty-free,” this initiative reflects PETA’s continued pattern of targeting Hindu festivals and rituals, while conveniently ignoring practices in other religious contexts……”
Read the full article at Organiser.org
