Kochi: The Kerala High Court has observed that
restrictions on parading of elephants during the festival was issued for the safety of the public, media reports said.
Hearing Cochin Devaswom Board’s plea seeking an exemption from the three-metre norm for parading elephants for the Tripunithura Poornathrayeesa temple festival beginning on Friday, the court emphasised that parading elephants is not an essential religious custom.
The court emphasised that the rule of law was important and not the authority of royal traditions.
The court reminded the Supreme Court’s mandate to maintain a safe distance between elephants during parade.
The Court’s extensive guidelines for parading elephants include maintaining a three-meter gap between elephants, a five-meter distance from fire torches (theevetti), and an eight-meter buffer for spectators.
The court has directed to provide adequate food, water, and rest for elephants and prohibit their parading on public roads between 9 am and 5 pm.
The Poornathrayeesa temple festival signals the beginning of temple festival season.
Fifteen elephants are paraded at the festival. This practise will be revised if court directives are implemented.
HC not to relax order on elephant
