In India, large Hindu ceremonies are often visited by elephants, because they are believed to be sacred animals. It is no different at the Shree Krishna Temple in Kerala state.

But this temple has a very special elephant named Irinjadappilly Raman. He stands over three metres tall and has been called handsome by some admirers.

He is also not real. Raman is a robot elephant, given to the temple by an animal charity called Peta. Peta wants to persuade all temples in Kerala to end animal cruelty.

The life-size robot creature, weighing 800kg, is made of iron and rubber. Despite being fake, Raman is lifelike. He can wag his tail, flap his ears, move his head, raise his trunk and has expressive eyes. He can also move around, thanks to the wheels attached to his feet.

The robot takes part in daily prayers and will be grandly decorated during festivals. Last month, he was ceremonially "offered" to the gods.

Animal charities say temple work can be hard on elephants because they must stand for hours in the blazing heat. 

On special occasions, they are surrounded by large, noisy crowds, and the sound of bursting firecrackers and beating drums can also startle them.

Rajkumar Namboothiri, the head priest at Shree Krishna Temple, says he is happy to conduct rituals without harming any living animals.

Elephants have a special place in Kerala culture. When people become rich, they are more likely to buy an elephant than a sports car.

Some elephants are so famous, they have their own fan clubs. When they are going to visit a town, posters go up on lamp posts. An elephant's look and personality can be the topic of passionate discussions!