KOCHI: Kerala high court on Friday ruled that elephant should not be used for the 'idol procession' during Sabarimala’s main festival season, ‘Makaravilakku’. However, the court has allowed using one elephant for the procession in connection with the annual festival.

A division bench comprising acting chief justice Thottathil B Radhakrishnan and justice Anu Sivaraman issued the directive after obtaining the views of two ‘tantris’ (traditional chief priests)and Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), which is the autonomous body that manages the hilltop shrine for Lord Ayyappa in Pathanamthitta district in central Kerala.

Sabarimala ‘tantris’ Kantararu Rajeevararu and Kantararu Mahesh Mohanaru had informed the court that there is no need to use elephants for ‘Makaravilakku’ as per tradition. However, they differed in their opinions regarding the use of elephants for the annual festival. In the order, the court said the use of elephants is being allowed for the annual festival as the ‘tantris’ differ in their views regarding its necessity.

TDB had opposed the views put forward by the ‘tantris’ regarding ‘Makaravilakku’ and had told the court that the rituals and traditions at Sabarimala currently involving elephants should be retained as such. TDB, which manages over 1,200 temples including Sabarimala, has an annual revenue of Rs 350 crore, with offerings made by Sabarimala pilgrims during the two-month-long pilgrimage season contributing more than Rs 200 crore to TDB’s total revenue.



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