Latest news with #PFCI
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Mechanical elephant ‘Gaja' gifted to temples in Aruppukottai
Chennai-based NGO People for Cattle in India and actress Trisha Krishnan donated a life-sized mechanical elephant named Gaja to Sri Ashtalinga Athisesha Selva Vinayagar and Sri Ashtabhuja Athisesha Varahi Amman Temples in Aruppukottai in Virudhunagar district. According to a press release, the initiative marked the first instance in Madurai region and Virudhunagar district where a temple embraced a mechanical elephant for religious ceremonies. Gaja, a meticulously designed mechanical elephant, is set to participate in temple rituals, offering a humane alternative to the traditional use of elephants. Additional Superintendent of Police Mathivanan unveiled the mechanical elephant Gaja. Gaja was introduced on the auspicious occasion of the Kumbabishekam festival at the temples. PFCI facilitated the donation to recognise the temples commitment to abstain from owning or hiring elephants, reflecting a broader movement towards cruelty-free religious practices. By integrating technology with tradition, these temples set a precedent for compassionate worship, inspiring others to follow suit. This move aligns with a growing trend across South India, where temples adopt mechanical elephants to uphold cultural practices while ensuring animal welfare. The world's first mechanical elephant, named Irinjadappilly Raman, was introduced at a temple in Kerala in 2023 by PETA India, the press release said.
News18
5 days ago
- General
- News18
Trisha Krishnan Donates Robotic Elephant ‘Gaja' To Tamil Nadu Temples
The aim behind Trisha Krishnan's donation is to offer an alternative to the use of real elephants in temple rituals and festivals. Trisha Krishnan has made a heartwarming and thoughtful gesture by donating a lifelike mechanical elephant named Gaja to two temples in Tamil Nadu – the Sri Ashtalinga Athisesha Selva Vinayagar Temple and the Sri Ashtabhuja Athisesha Varahi Amman Temple. This donation aims to offer an alternative to the use of real elephants in temple rituals and festivals. Gaja, the mechanical elephant, will now be a part of traditional temple ceremonies by taking part in religious activities in place of live elephants. This step supports a growing movement across many temples in South India where more and more places of worship are choosing mechanical elephants as a way to respect both culture and animal welfare. Gaja arrived—and was met with warmth, awe, and devotion by all at Sri Ashtalinga Athisesha Selva Vinayagar and Sri Ashtabhuja Athisesha Varahi Amman temples in Tamil Nadu. 💫 @trishtrashers #RoboticGaja #MechanicalElephant #PFCI — People For Cattle In India (PFCI) (@PFCII) June 27, 2025 Trisha's decision to donate Gaja was made in collaboration with People For Cattle In India (PFCI), an animal protection group working towards cruelty-free practices. In a statement shared by the organisation, Trisha opened up about the emotions behind her gesture. She said, 'I'm thrilled to be part of this beautiful moment. Devotion shines brightest when it's rooted in compassion. Welcoming a mechanical elephant into our temple traditions is a celebration of kindness, innovation, and culture." 'We are honouring our heritage in a way that brings no harm, only harmony. This gesture stands as a proud symbol of progress, where faith and empathy walk hand in hand. I hope it inspires many more to embrace a future where love leads our rituals, and no being suffers in the name of tradition," she added. The PFCI shared photos and videos of Gaja on X (formerly Twitter) and thanked Trisha for being a part of this meaningful initiative. 'Thank you, @trishtrashers for working with us. Gaja signals a new beginning—where real elephants are free, and traditions continue at Sri Ashtalinga Athisesha Selva Vinayagar and Sri Ashtabhuja Athisesha Varahi Amman temples in Tamil Nadu," the caption read. Thank you, @trishtrashers for working with us. Gaja signals a new beginning—where real elephants are free, and traditions continue at Sri Ashtalinga Athisesha Selva Vinayagar and Sri Ashtabhuja Athisesha Varahi Amman temples in Tamil Nadu.🌿🐘 #RoboticGaja #MechanicalElephant — People For Cattle In India (PFCI) (@PFCII) June 27, 2025 They also posted an image of a vegan meal arranged for temple devotees. Compassion never tasted so good! 🥗 Sri Ashtalinga Athisesha Selva Vinayagar and Sri Ashtabhuja Athisesha Varahi Amman temples in Tamil Nadu served hearty vegan meals to celebrate. @trishtrashers #RoboticGaja #MechanicalElephant — People For Cattle In India (PFCI) (@PFCII) June 27, 2025 On the work front, Trisha has a couple of big projects lined up. She will soon be seen in Vishwambhara, a film directed by Malladi Vassishta where she stars opposite megastar Chiranjeevi. On her birthday in May, the makers shared the first look of her character Avani. The film also features Aashika Ranganath, Ramya Pasupuleti, Esha Chawla and Ashrita Vemuganti Nanduri. Vishwambhara is expected to hit theatres in September. Trisha is also working on Karuppu, a film directed by RJ Balaji, where she will star alongside Suriya. The rest of the cast includes Swasika, Indrans, Sshivada, Anagha Maya Ravi, Yogi Babu, Natty and Supreeth Reddy. Karuppu is reportedly aiming for a Diwali release. First Published:
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Trisha Krishnan donates lifelike mechanical elephant called Gaja, vegan meals to temples in Tamil Nadu
Actor and animal lover Trisha Krishnan donated a lifelike mechanical elephant to Sri Ashtalinga Athisesha Selva Vinayagar and Sri Ashtabhuja Athisesha Varahi Amman temples in Tamil Nadu. On Friday, the temples debuted the elephant named Gaja, and Trisha sponsored a hearty vegan meal for all devotees in attendance. (Also Read: Trisha fuels relationship rumours again with her birthday wish for Vijay; internet confused by her mother's reaction) Trisha Krishnan's love for animals is well-known and she's 'absolutely thrilled' to have donated the mechanical elephant. In a statement released by People For Cattle In India (PFCI), Trisha spoke of the reason why she donated Gaja to the temples. She said, 'I'm absolutely thrilled to be part of this beautiful moment. Devotion shines brightest when it's rooted in compassion. Welcoming a mechanical elephant into our temple traditions is a celebration of kindness, innovation, and culture.' She also added, 'We are honouring our heritage in a way that brings no harm, only harmony. This gesture stands as a proud symbol of progress, here faith and empathy walk hand in hand. I hope it inspires many more to embrace a future where love leads our rituals, and no being suffers in the name of tradition.' Vegan meal sponsored by Trisha The PFCI posted pictures and videos of Gaja on X (formerly Twitter), thanking Trisha for making the donation. They wrote, 'Thank you, @trishtrashers for working with us. Gaja signals a new beginning—where real elephants are free, and traditions continue at Sri Ashtalinga Athisesha Selva Vinayagar and Sri Ashtabhuja Athisesha Varahi Amman temples in Tamil Nadu.' They also shared a picture of the meal Trisha had arranged for devotees, along with a sign board that reads, 'Just like our lifelike mechanical elephant promotes kindness to real elephants, vegan food shows respect to animals by leaving them off our plates. There are no meat, dairy, eggs, or other animal products, just delicious plant-based dishes that are better for animals, the planet and our health.' Trisha starred in Vidaamuyarchi, Good Bad Ugly and Thug Life this year. She will soon star in Vishwambhara and Karuppu.
United News of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- United News of India
Actress Trisha Krishnan gifts realistic mechanical elephant to temples in Aruppukottai
Chennai, June 27 (UNI) In a landmark move blending tradition with compassion, popular Tamil film actress Trisha Krishnan and the Chennai-based NGO People for Cattle in India (PFCI) donated a life size mechanical elephant named Gaja to the Sri Ashtalinga Athisesha Selva Vinayagar and Sri Ashtabhuja Athisesha Varahi Amman Temples at Aruppukottai in the southern Virudhunagar district of Tamil Nadu, today. This initiative marked the first instance in the Madurai region - and the entire Virudhunagar district where a temple has embraced a mechanical elephant for religious ceremonies. Gaja, a meticulously designed mechanical elephant, is set to participate in temple rituals, offering a humane alternative to the traditional use of live elephants. This move aligns with a growing trend across South India, where temples adopt mechanical elephants to uphold cultural practices while ensuring animal welfare. The world's first mechanical elephant, named Irinjadappilly Raman, was introduced at a temple in Kerala in 2023 by PETA India, a PFCI release said. Trisha Krishnan, a celebrated Indian actress, has long advocated for animal welfare. Trisha actively collaborates with organizations like PETA India and the Blue Cross of India to champion the rights and well-being of animals. 'I'm absolutely thrilled to be part of this beautiful moment,' she said. 'Devotion shines brightest when it's rooted in compassion. Welcoming a mechanical elephant into our temple traditions is a celebration of kindness, innovation, and culture. We are honoring our heritage in a way that brings no harm, only harmony. This gesture stands as a proud symbol of progress, where faith and empathy walk hand in hand. I hope it inspires many more to embrace a future where love leads our rituals, and no being suffers in the name of tradition', she added. District Additional Superintendent of Police Mathivanan who unveiled Gaja, said 'I am glad to attend such a function. Gaja, the mechanical elephant, is placed and is one of a kind in this region, so I am very happy to attend this function. I am told that Gaja will save several wild animals, so I congratulate the organisation and the temple trustees who were working behind the scenes.' On the auspicious occasion of the Kumbabishekam festival at these temples, Gaja was introduced and celebrated with a traditional mangala vadiyam performance, symbolizing a harmonious blend of heritage and ethical progress. PFCI facilitated this donation to recognise the temples' commitment to abstaining from owning or hiring live elephants, reflecting a broader movement towards cruelty-free religious practices. By integrating technology with tradition, these temples set a precedent for compassionate worship, inspiring others to follow suit. Temple Chief Swamiji, Mettukundu Gnanaveli Siddhar Sri Sankareswarar Swamigal said "Our faith teaches us that true devotion is expressing compassion. By welcoming this mechanical elephant, Gaja, into our rituals, we honor tradition and the feelings of the gentle beings who desire to be in their jungle homes. This step reflects the spirit of our religion—one that reveres life, love, and kindness for all creatures. Gaja represents more than innovation; it is a sacred step towards a future where no being is made to suffer at the hands of humans. Our religion is rooted in ahimsa, and with this gesture, we hope to set an example: that rituals can thrive not through force, but through love and empathy. Let our worship be as gentle as the elephants we seek to honor." Arun Prasanna, Founder of PFCI, said "Introducing mechanical elephants into temple rituals is a meaningful step towards ending the suffering of temple elephants while preserving the sanctity of our cultural and spiritual practices. Gaja showcases that devotion and dignity for all living beings can coexist beautifully.' Arun added, 'We are especially inspired by PETA India's pioneering introduction of mechanical elephants, which encouraged us to bring this change to Tamil Nadu.' Elephants are intelligent, social wild animals, yet they are often subjected to harsh training methods involving beatings, chaining, and deprivation in temples. Many suffer from severe foot injuries, malnutrition, lack of veterinary care, and the psychological trauma of isolation and confinement. Under such distressing conditions, some elephants become aggressive, leading to tragic outcomes. In Tamil Nadu, several temple-related incidents have highlighted this crisis: in November 2024, the temple elephant Deivanai at the Subramanya Swamy Temple in Tiruchendur fatally attacked and killed her mahout and his relative; in May 2018, Masini, a temple elephant in Trichy, trampled her handler to death during a ritual; and in September 2024, elephant Subbulakshmi at the temple in Kundrakudi died painfully from burn injuries sustained in a fire accident. These heartbreaking incidents reflect the deep suffering of elephants kept in temples and the growing danger to human lives, calling urgently for compassionate, state-of-the-art alternatives that respect both animals and tradition. Mechanical elephants have emerged as an excellent alternative to living elephants. They are a powerful symbol of how innovation can coexist with compassion in our relationship with the natural world. Increasingly seen in temples, these marvels of human creativity reflect technological progress and a conscious effort to ease the burden on real elephants. The adoption of mechanical elephants is more than a technical solution; it is a meaningful, compassionate shift that honors tradition while helping to end the silent suffering of these majestic beings. Last year, PFCI offered to donate a similar mechanical elephant to the historic Arulmigu Nachiyar (Andal) Temple in Srivilliputhur, Tamil Nadu. This compassionate gesture was made alongside a formal request to send the temple's elephant, Jeymalyatha - also known as Joymala - to a reputed sanctuary for rehabilitation and long-term care. Jeymalyatha has been at the center of national concern following multiple reports and video evidence of abuse in captivity, sparking widespread public outcry and demands for her release. However, despite the significance of the offer and growing national attention on Jeymalyatha's plight, there has been no official response or update from the temple authorities regarding the proposal or the elephant's welfare. PFCI is a Chennai-based NGO established in 2012. Its focus is on preventing illegal cattle trafficking and slaughter and on other important animal protection issues. PFCI has saved the lives of more than 1,000 cattle and other animals. PFCI also distributes water bowls yearly throughout the summer to help birds and other animals quench their thirst. PFCI continues to work closely with authorities, communities, and volunteers to build a more humane and law-abiding society for animals. UNI GV 1840
