According to the Kerala Captive Elephants Maintenance Act 2003, elephants are barred from being paraded between 11 am and 3 pm when the summer sun is at its blazing best. “The rules are clear on the parading of elephants and they will be enforced,’’ Chief Conservator of Forests V S Varughese told Deccan Herald.

The rules were not being enforced until two years ago, when several incidents of elephants running amok began to surface. As the high court called for strict enforcement of the captive elephants maintenance rules, several temples had to grudgingly impose self-restrictions.

At the Thrissur Pooram, a minimum of 30 elephants are paraded by the Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu devaswoms. Colourful pageants wend their way through Thrissur city to Vadakkumnathan temple where the festivities culminate, in the wee hours, with a magnificent display of fireworks. Forest officials say that a lot of commercialisation had crept into the festivities and was causing difficulties to the elephants these days.

“Two major events, the Madhathilvaravu and Elanjitharamelam, are being held between 12 noon and 4 pm when caparisoned elephants are paraded. Thrissur Pooram cannot be held without these events,’’ said Mr P Narayanankutty, secretary of Paramekkavu Devaswom.

Last year, the Pooram organisers had to rush to the high court for an exemption when the elephant rule was sought to be enforced. Pooram fans say the sudden enforcement of rules has dampened the religious, historical and cultural significance of the event.

The devaswoms claim that they have been following the rulebook on the upkeep of elephants. “We have been keeping the ground surface under the elephants cool as required by rules. Water is being sprayed frequently,’’ said Mr Madhavankutty, a spokesman for Thiruvambady Devaswom.

He alleged that rules were being interpreted in different ways by different officials.