New Delhi: The management committees of Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu Devaswoms, key participants in the renowned Thrissur Pooram, have approached the Supreme Court to challenge the Kerala High Court’s guidelines on the elephant parade. The Devaswoms argue that implementing the guidelines will disrupt the two-century-old festival, which celebrates Kerala’s rich cultural heritage.

On November 13 and 28, the Kerala High Court issued strict orders regarding the elephant parade, imposing spatial restrictions. The guidelines include a minimum of three metres between elephants, a five-metre distance from elephants to the flambeau (fire pole) or other sources of fire, and eight metres between elephants, the public, and percussion displays.

The petitioners contend that the High Court’s spatial restrictions would halt the Thrissur Pooram, as the Vadakkumnathan Temple, a historic venue integral to the event, cannot accommodate such constraints. The temple, recognised as a UNESCO heritage site, has been the focal point of the festival for centuries, and the Devaswoms argue that the High Court’s directives overlook its cultural and religious significance.

Petitioners' concerns

The petitioners, which include the two Devaswoms and eight other temples, also stated that the High Court’s orders were broad and difficult to implement, causing last-minute confusion in festival planning. They highlighted the challenge of enforcing the directives with a crowd of over five lakh people, necessitating coordination with multiple agencies while maintaining the sanctity of the event.

Jurisdictional concerns and religious significance

Advocate Abhilash AR, representing the petitioners, argued that the High Court’s reliance on the Sabarimala case findings prematurely overstepped its jurisdiction. He noted that the case was still under judicial scrutiny, and the High Court’s order failed to account for the cultural and religious importance of the elephant parade.

Appeal for quashing the orders

The Devaswoms seek the quashing of the High Court's orders from November 13 and 28. They also request an interim stay on the guidelines, along with a directive for the state government to refrain from relying on these orders while framing new rules during the pendency of the appeal.

With ANI inputs