The Kuthira Pooram, most notably celebrated as Machad Mamangam (or Machad Kuthira Vela), is a vibrant and unique festival held at the Thiruvanikkavu Temple near Wadakkancherry in Thrissur. Unlike most Kerala poorams that feature elephants, this festival is famous for its competitive procession of giant wooden horse effigies (Kuthirakolams) handcrafted by five participating villages. These intricately decorated, life-sized horses are carried on the shoulders of devotees who dance to the powerful beats of traditional percussion ensembles like the Pandi Melam. Legend says the festival began when a local king, unable to source live horses for a competition, ordered the creation of these artificial replicas to rival the elephant pageants of neighboring towns. This high-energy event usually takes place in February (the month of Kumbham), turning the post-harvest paddy fields into a spectacular arena of color, strength, and local pride.
