Devotees gather around Ranga, a fully mechanised elephant, during its ceremonial unveiling as part of ISKCON Visakhapatnam’s Sharad Purnima celebrations at MGM Park on Beach Road on Sunday.

Devotees gather around Ranga, a fully mechanised elephant, during its ceremonial unveiling as part of ISKCON Visakhapatnam’s Sharad Purnima celebrations at MGM Park on Beach Road on Sunday. | Photo Credit: V. RAJU

A moving robotic elephant named Ranga, weighing 800 kg, was unveiled on Sunday at MGM Park on Beach Road in front of a large gathering of devotees during ISKCON Visakhapatnam’s Sharad Purnima celebrations. The organisers described it as the first-of-its-kind in Andhra Pradesh.

ISKCON Governing Body chairman Madhusevita Prabhu inaugurated the elephant. Branch president Samba Das Prabhu and Nitai Sevini Mataji led the programme. According to ISKCON, the elephant was brought from Thrissur in Kerala and donated by PETA India.

A ‘Nauka Vihar’ (boat festival), Bhajan Clubbing and the ‘Kartika Deepotsavam’ followed ‘sankirtan’ of the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra.

CMR Group managing director Mavuri Venkata Ramana, Andhra University former Vice-Chancellor G.S.N. Raju, Simhachalam Devasthanam chief priest G. Srinivasacharyulu, and Pydah Educational Institutions chairman Pydah Krishna Prasad were also present on the ocassion.

Published - October 25, 2026 11:56 pm IST

Source: The Hindu · The Hindu Bureau

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