Mention Anthiyur, a nondescript region in Erode district, and what immediately comes to mind is its annual horse fair, which attracts horse-lovers from across the country. For over two centuries, people have converged here during the fair to purchase the best horses. For many, owning a horse picked from this fair is a symbol of pride and prestige; for some, it is a sign of prosperity.
The fair remained suspended since 2020 after the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. It is believed the practice of holding Kuthirai Sandhai (horse fair) began when Tipu Sultan was the ruler of Mysore (1782-1799). “Our forefathers said the ruler purchased horses from Anthiyur and sold the horses that are no longer useful for the battle. Over the years, the Sandhai became popular,” says T. Murugesan, 75, of Anthiyur.
A four-km forest road, called Sultan Road, is located inside the Talamalai Forest Range in the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve that served as a major route for Tipu Sultan’s army connecting Mysore in Karnataka and Palakkad in Kerala. “There is no doubt that the ruler started the fair for trading horses,” he adds.
