Vadodara wants to set trend in yatras

VADODARA, June 29:The grand rathyatra of Sri Jagannath may be over for the year, but State Forest department officials and wildlife enthusia...

VADODARA, June 29:The grand rathyatra of Sri Jagannath may be over for the year, but State Forest department officials and wildlife enthusiasts are hoping that it has set a trend that will catch on.

For the first time in 16 years, the ISKCON rathyatra did not include any elephants, following an understanding between the religious heads and officials that they would substantially increase the risk factor. Said Basu Ghosh Das, pgrandeur of the procession, but not at the cost of safety or cruelty to the animal. So we decided to do away with them.”

Interestingly, the number of pachyderms in the Ahmedabad rathyatra — arguably the grandest in the State — has also come down to less than 10 from 24-odd 10 years ago, reportedly at the behest of the forest department.

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Discouraging inclusion of elephants in religious processions is supposed to be the new official line in view of the high risks involved. Sources in the wildlife wing of the forest department said even tame elephants could go berserk at the sight of huge crowds, especially during the summer.

Moreover, the forest department does not have personnel trained in the application of tranquilisers which, ironically, the department does have.

The entire responsibility of handling the mammoth animal, thus, lies entirely with the mahouts, who more often than not, are associated with the religious organisation. Sources said that though the elephants used in processions belonged to religious bodies, few had ownership certificates or maintained health records.

Though a minor incident had occurred in the 1986 rathyatra, there has been no initiative so far to train personnel in handling elephants. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests A P Mishra, however, said the department was planning to “send some men to South India for training”.