Thechikottukavu "Raman" Ramachandran
SpeciesElephas maximus (Asian elephant)
SexMale
Bornc. 1964 (age 59–60)
Bihar, India
Nation fromIndia
Years active1984–present
Known forThrissur Pooram, other Poorams
OwnerThechikkottukavu Devasom, Kerala, India
Height321 cm (10 ft 6+1⁄2 in)
Named afterRaman

Thechikkottukavu Ramachandran (born c. 1964) is an Indian elephant owned by Thechikottukavu devasom, a temple in Kerala.[1] Commonly known as simply Raman, he is the tallest living captive elephant in Asia , standing at 321.5 cm. [2] they gave Ramachandran the title Ekachatradhipathi (transl. The Only Emperor).[3]

The partly blind elephant plays a key role in several Pooram festivals. In 2018, 50,000 spectators gathered to watch Ramachandran kickstart Thrissur Pooram at Thrissur’s Vadakkumnathan temple.[4] However, he has been banned from public display on multiple occasions.[5][6][7]

Incidents

Due to Ramachandran's popularity, temples in Kerala have wanted him to carry God’s idol during temple festivals to attract a crowd. He had previously been banned by the authorities for causing the deaths of 13 to 15 humans and at least three other elephants. People close to Ramachandran claimed that the elephant never killed people intentionally, but, rather, accidentally. The ban was lifted and Ramachandran was allowed to continue participating in festivals. Both the pachyderm and his mahouts have been subjected to criticism by the media and other elephant owners. In 2015, an attempt was reportedly made to kill Ramachandran by mixing blades in its feed.[8]

Thrissur Pooram

Since 2011, Ramchandran has performed the Poora Vilambaram in the Thrissur Pooram, the largest Pooram festival. He pushes open the south entrance gate of the Vadakkunnathan Temple, marking the beginning of the religious festival. After a 2019 incident in which Ramachandran trampled two people to death, the animal was banned from being paraded at temple festivals after a panel of medical experts deemed it medically unfit. The elephant was given conditional permission to participate in Thrissur Pooram on May 11, 2019, after a team of three veterinarians had the elephant pass a fitness test and conducted a medical examination of the tusker.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Gajakesari Thechikkottukavu Ramachandran". elephant-kerala.com. Archived from the original on July 10, 2011.
  2. ↑ Balakrishnan, Reghu (2014-03-09). "Jumbo-size growth in this economy". Business Standard India. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
  3. ↑ "Kerala's star elephants are a 'jumbo' hit on the internet - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 2021-01-12.
  4. ↑ "Kerala's celebrity elephant: Meet Ramachandran, who kickstarted Thrissur Pooram". The Times of India. Retrieved 2018-04-24.
  5. ↑ "ഇടത്കണ്ണിന് പൂർണ്ണമായും വലത് കണ്ണിന് ഭാഗികമായും കാഴ്ച ശക്തിയുള്ള,4 ആനകളെ കുത്തിയിട്ടുള്ള, 7 മനുഷ്യജീവനെടുത്ത, അസ്സമുകാരനായ രാമചന്ദ്രൻ.(4 ആനകളെ കുത്തിയത് ആനക്ക് മടപ്പാട് ഉണ്ടാകുന്നതിന് മുമ്പ് ആണ്.ഇതിനെ ഇടക്കോൾ എന്നു വിളിക്കുന്നു". Mathrubhumi.
  6. ↑ "Ban on celebrity jumbo threatens to take sheen out of Thrissur Pooram". Hindustan Times. May 8, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Kerala's celebrity elephant: Meet Ramachandran, who kickstarted Thrissur Pooram". The News Minute. 2018-04-24. Retrieved 2021-01-08.
  8. ↑ Thechikottukavu Ramachandran profile, englisharchives.mathrubhumi.com. Accessed December 20, 2023.
  9. ↑ Balan, Saritha S (May 11, 2019). "Celebrity elephant Ramachandran likely to be paraded for Vilambaram ritual in Pooram". thenewsminute.com.
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