Meet The Artists Who Created The Robotic Elephant That Debuted In A Kerala Temple Festival

When Irinjadappilly Raman was inducted by the Irinjadappilly Sree Krishna Temple in Kerala's Thrissur, it scripted history. That is because it was for the first time a Kerala temple has used a mechanical elephant for its festival. Irinjadappilly Raman is a robotic elephant that was donated to the temple by the animal rights organisation People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India.

Bobins AbrahamUpdated: Feb 28, 2023, 13:43 IST
5 min read
Indiatimes

When Irinjadappilly Raman was inducted by the Irinjadappilly Sree Krishna Temple in Kerala's Thrissur, it scripted history.

That is because it was for the first time a Kerala temple has used a mechanical elephant for its festival.

Meet The Artists Who Created The Robotic Elephant Irinjadappilly Raman That Debuted In A Kerala Temple Festival INDIATIMES

Meet Irinjadappilly Raman, the robotic elephant

Irinjadappilly Raman is a robotic elephant that was donated to the temple by the animal rights organisation People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India.

The temple welcomed the 11-foot-tall robotic elephant, which can move its head, eyes, ears, mouth, tail and trunk like a real elephant, on Sunday in a traditional ceremony called 'Nadayiruthal' in which offerings are dedicated to the deity.

Meet The Artists Who Created The Robotic Elephant Irinjadappilly Raman That Debuted In A Kerala Temple Festival INDIATIMES

Kerala temple welcomes first robotic elephant

Following this, Irinjadappilly Raman made his debut in the afternoon when he was decked up and paraded during the temple festival procession, accompanied by a performance by the percussion ensemble led by legendary artist Peruvanam Satheesan Marar.

"We are extremely happy and grateful to receive this mechanical elephant which will help us to conduct our rituals and festivals in a cruelty-free way, and we hope that other temples will also think about replacing live elephants for rituals," the Head priest of the temple Rajkumar Namboothiri, who welcomed Irinjadappilly Raman, said.

Meet The Artists Who Created The Robotic Elephant Irinjadappilly Raman That Debuted In A Kerala Temple Festival INDIATIMES

Can robotic elephants free captive jumbos?

According to PETA India, which has been campaigning for long to end the use of elephants in temple festivals, robotic elephants like Irinjadappilly Raman can become a viable alternative to real jumbos.

The use of captive elephants in temple festivals across Kerala has always been controversial.

Animal rights groups have long accused elephant owners and temple authorities of ill-treatment of the jumbos.

Meet The Artists Who Created The Robotic Elephant Irinjadappilly Raman That Debuted In A Kerala Temple Festival BCCL/File

Elephants running amok, killing or injuring mahouts, spectators and even other jumbos are not uncommon during this time of the year in Kerala, which is the peak of the festival season, when the tuskers are in high demand.

"We wanted to offer an alternative to using elephants in temple festivities. Because elephants are wild animals that should live freely in the wild. We wanted to show that when there are alternatives like this mechanical elephant, there is no reason we should put elephants through such torture and also endanger the lives of people," Khushboo Gupta, Director of Advocacy Projects at PETA India, told Indiatimes.

Meet The Artists Who Created The Robotic Elephant Irinjadappilly Raman That Debuted In A Kerala Temple Festival INDIATIMES

Meet the artists who made Irinjadappilly Raman

The life-like elephant that left festival-goers amused on Sunday was built by four young artisans from Thrissur for Rs 5 lakhs.

"The elephant figure has a height of 10.8 feet and with the wheels, it will be around 11 feet tall. The core structure is made using steel and the outer material is rubber to give it a life-like feel. It weighs around 800 kgs and took us two months to complete," Prasanth Prakasan, the co-founder of Chalakkuduy-based Four He Arts, which created the elephant, told Indiatimes.

Meet The Artists Who Created The Robotic Elephant Irinjadappilly Raman That Debuted In A Kerala Temple Festival INDIATIMES

The electric-powered elephant has five in-built motors to move its tail, eyes, ears, head and mouth. While these are automated, the robotic elephant's trunk, which is also mobile, can be controlled manually.

Like real elephants, the robotic elephant also can carry up to four people on its back.

Meet The Artists Who Created The Robotic Elephant Irinjadappilly Raman That Debuted In A Kerala Temple Festival INDIATIMES

How they started

Irinjadappilly Raman, however, is not the first life-like elephant made by Prakasan, who has been an artisan for nearly 15 years.

"We had been making cement sculptures for around 15 years now. We used to rent out some of these sculptures including a miniature elephant, for events and exhibitions. After a video of our miniature elephant went viral, we were contacted by some people from Dubai asking if we could make a life-sized elephant for a temple festival there. We shipped two completed elephant figures from here and also assembled one in Dubai. The festival and elephants became a superhit there," Prakasan said.

Meet The Artists Who Created The Robotic Elephant Irinjadappilly Raman That Debuted In A Kerala Temple Festival INDIATIMES

Robotic elephants become a hit

Since then, Prakasan and his friends, Santo, Jinesh and Robin, have been flooded with inquiries and orders.

The friends who used to work from their backyards, creating sculptures and storing them, also set up a small garage called Four He Arts.

Meet The Artists Who Created The Robotic Elephant Irinjadappilly Raman That Debuted In A Kerala Temple Festival INDIATIMES

Had no idea it was for PETA

He, however, said they had no idea that the elephant would be offered to a temple.

"After Dubai, we received many orders, including one from Udaipur. So, when we received this order from Delhi, we were under the impression that it was to be exhibited there. Only later, we go to know that it was for PETA India and that they are going to gift this to a temple. For us, this is our job and we don't bother what the customer is going to do with the elephant," he said.

Meet The Artists Who Created The Robotic Elephant Irinjadappilly Raman That Debuted In A Kerala Temple Festival INDIATIMES

Given how elephants have become inseparable from temple festivals, especially in Thrissur, Prakasan said he is still unsure of the future.

"Maybe this will start a larger debate about the use of elephants in temple festivals. Maybe there will be backlash from elephant owners and fans, I don't know," he said.

Meet The Artists Who Created The Robotic Elephant Irinjadappilly Raman That Debuted In A Kerala Temple Festival BCCL/ FILE

Captive elephants should be rehabilitated: PETA India

PETA India, however, is confident that if more temple authorities come forward to accept mechanical elephants like Irinjadappilly Raman, the abuse of captive jumbos can be ended.

"Elephants continue to suffer because there is demand for them and their use is still being allowed. At PETA India, we are ready to guide and assist any temple or individual elephant owners to sanctuaries for rehabilitation. Elephants are highly social animals and they live in a group. Capturing them, keeping them in isolation, in chains all their lives, is wrong. We feel that it is time that governments also invest in providing sanctuaries for these elephants, rather than letting their abuse continue," Khushboo Gupta said.

For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.

Bobins Abraham

Bobins Abraham is the Assistant News Editor at Indiatimes. He has more than twelve years of experience in TV and digital journalism. An avid student of history and geopolitics, he is a conservationist and environmentalist at heart. He writes on environment, sustainability, human-animal conflict and more.

Read More
22/11/2024 9:48:36
seductrice.net
universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
prowp.net
webmanicura.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
mfhoudan.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
kftz5k.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
casino-natali.com
iprofit-internet.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
healthandfitnesslives.com
androidnews-jp.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
britsmile.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
kakakpintar.com
jerusalemdispatch.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
rajasthancarservices.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
hemendekor.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
worldhealthstory.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
techguroh.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com