Adivi Sesh teams up with PETA India to gift life-size mechanical Elephant Ranga to ISKCON Temple in Visakhapatnam
Actor Adivi Sesh has joined hands with PETA India to promote the use of mechanical elephants as an alternative to live animals in religious ceremonies. As part of the initiative, a life-size mechanical elephant named Ranga has been gifted to the Sri Sri Radha Damodar Temple of ISKCON in Visakhapatnam.
The initiative focuses on animal welfare while encouraging religious institutions to consider alternatives that allow them to continue their traditions without involving live elephants in processions. Mechanical elephants can provide a visual presence during ceremonies without exposing animals to the conditions associated with captivity, chaining and training for public events.
Speaking about the initiative, Adivi Sesh highlighted the need to balance cultural practices with compassion for animals. He said, “I’m truly excited to join PETA India in gifting an awe-inspiring life-size mechanical elephant, Ranga, to the Sri Sri Radha Damodar Temple of Iskcon, Vishakhapatnam. I truly believe that it’s important for our traditions and customs to not just reflect our devotion, but also our affection and empathy for all the beings that share the world with us. All elephants belong in the forest, amongst the trees, with their families. To see them chained, trained, abused, made to perform in processions, truly hurts the heart. I hope our initiative inspires many communities and many temples across India to honour our traditions while embracing compassionate choices.”
The collaboration seeks to encourage other temples and communities to consider similar alternatives when organising religious celebrations. The use of mechanical elephants has emerged as one approach to maintaining the ceremonial presence of elephants while addressing concerns about the treatment and welfare of live animals used in public events.
Ranga’s installation at the Visakhapatnam temple also brings attention to discussions around the role of animals in religious traditions and the possibility of adapting established practices to accommodate animal welfare concerns. Extending his wishes to the temple and its devotees, Sesh added, “My heartfelt wishes to everyone at ISKCON Visakhapatnam. May Ranga bring you joy, happiness and devotion for many years to come.”
Through the initiative with PETA India, the actor is encouraging religious institutions to explore ways of preserving the significance of their traditions while making choices that take animal welfare into account.
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