Shia Youth Oppose Mechanical Elephant For Muharram Procession in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: A representation submitted by the Telangana Shia Youth Welfare Association to minority welfare minister Mohammed Azharuddin has opposed the proposed inclusion of a mechanical elephant in the 10th Muharram procession, days after PETA India publicly offered one to the Telangana State Waqf Board ahead of the annual Bibi-ka-Alam procession in Hyderabad.

The association said the Shia community “will not accept the inclusion or use of a mechanical elephant” during the Ashura procession and urged the state government and local authorities to maintain the “traditional sanctity” of the event.

The letter, dated May 28 and signed by association president Azmath Jaffery, said, “This historic procession holds deep religious, spiritual, and emotional significance for our community, and maintaining its traditional sanctity is of utmost importance to us.”

The letter referred to PETA India’s proposal offering a life-size mechanical elephant to the Telangana State Waqf Board and calling for the replacement of live elephants in the Muharram procession. PETA had cited concerns over captive elephant welfare and public safety during crowded religious events.

The Shia Youth Welfare Association, however, said the community’s sentiments should be considered before any such decision is taken. “We respectfully request the Government of Telangana and the local authorities to take note of the community’s sentiments and see that no such mechanical alternatives are introduced into the procession route,” the representation said.

Copies of the letter were sent to Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, environment and forests minister Konda Surekha, Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, minority affairs adviser Mohammed Ali Shabbir, AIMIM MLC Mirza Riyaz-ul-Hassan Effendi, Telangana State Waqf Board chairman Azmathullah Hussaini and Waqf Board CEO Md Asadullah.