By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi,
In a ceremony that blended tradition with compassion, ISKCON Kharghar inaugurated Gajendra, a life-sized mechanical elephant, on November 9, 2025. The occasion marked a milestone for Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohanji Mandir as it became the first ISKCON temple and the pioneering religious institution in Maharashtra to embrace this innovative approach to temple rituals.
The grand opening ceremony, held at Hare Krishna Land in Sector 23, Kharghar, featured several eminent dignitaries. Smt. Hema Malini, a renowned actor, Padma Shri awardee, and Member of Parliament from Mathura, joined PETA India in presenting this remarkable gift to the temple. The event was further graced by Smt. Manda Vijay Mhatre, MLA from Belapur, and Sri Prashant Thakur, MLA from Panvel, alongside ISKCON Kharghar Temple President Dr. Sura Das and hundreds of devotees.
The ceremony opened with kirtan and Maṅgalacarana, after which Smt. Hema Malini and Dr. Sura Das jointly unveiled Gajendra. The event culminated with the inaugural arati offered to Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohanji. Devotees then participated in Gajarohan Seva and parikrama, experiencing for the first time how the elephant integrates into traditional worship practices.
Standing three meters tall and weighing 800 kilograms, Gajendra represents a remarkable fusion of engineering and spirituality. Constructed using rubber, fiber, metal, mesh, foam, and steel, it operates on five motors and runs on electricity. The elephant can perform lifelike movements – shaking its head, flapping its ears, moving its eyes, swishing its tail, lifting its trunk, and even spraying water. Most importantly, devotees can climb upon it and it can be taken in processions, fulfilling all traditional ceremonial requirements.
Read more: https://iskconnews.org/tradition-meets-compassion-as-iskcon-kharghar-unveils-mechanical-elephant/
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