As millions across India prepare to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi, homes and temples will echo with chants to Lord Ganesha — the remover of obstacles, the harbinger of wisdom, and the most beloved of Hindu deities. Clay idols will be adorned with flowers, offerings will pile high, and prayers will rise skyward.

But just beyond the glow of devotion lies a heartbreaking paradox: while worshippers honour Ganesha in spirit, his earthly embodiment — the elephant — suffers in silence.

For centuries, elephants have been revered in Indian culture as symbols of wisdom, prosperity, and strength. Yet this reverence coexists with unspeakable cruelty. Captive elephants used in festivals and temple rituals are often chained so tightly that iron shackles slice through their flesh. Many are forced to walk for miles on blistering asphalt, paraded under the scorching sun,........

© Mathrubhumi English