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Court nod for elephant parading

Staff Reporter

Modifies its earlier order and sets guidelines for Thrissur Pooram

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Thursday modified its earlier order prohibiting parading of elephants from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in festivals with respect to the Thrissur Pooram and allowed the parading of elephants during the above timings during festivals on certain conditions.

The conditions are: elephants to be paraded in the Pooram festivals will be given rest during morning hours and the previous night. Elephants should be fed well before parading them. They should be provided drinking water during the procession and the required food.

If the elephants are made to stand on tarred roads, water should be poured over them. Two hours' rest after 3 p.m. should be given to elephants before re-engaging them again at 5 p.m. If any elephant showed any signs of discomfort, it should be substituted with another one.

Devaswoms' plea

Justice C.N. Ramachandran Nair also directed the Thrissur District Collector, who is the Chairman of the Pooram Festival Celebrations Committee, to ensure that the conditions were complied with by the Devaswoms.

The order came on a petition filed by the secretaries of Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu Devaswoms seeking to modify Wednesday's prohibition order. According to them, the order would disturb the Pooram festival to be held on April 27 and 28.

They also submitted that the processions in connection with the festival would be taken out at 7.30 a.m. from various places. The same elephants would not be paraded throughout the day.

The elephants engaged in the processions from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. would be a separate set. These elephants would be given rest from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Most of the elephants would be relieved by 7 p.m.The court directed that the Pooram festival be rescheduled from next year so that parading of elephants from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. except under shade could be avoided.

The judge also ordered that taking elephants along the tarred roads be avoided so that the animals would not suffer summer heat.

The rules of the Captive Elephant Management Rules prohibited taking of elephants along the tarred roads during the hottest times.

The court modified its order as it felt that the Pooram was not just a temple festival but a festival of all the people in Thrissur district. Besides, the secretaries gave the assurance that the elephants would be properly fed and engaged on shift basis.

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