All-party meeting opposes proposal to shift Anthiyur horse fair venue
An all-party meeting held at Anthiyur in Erode district on Sunday (June 28, 2026) resolved to oppose the proposed shifting of the venue of the
An all-party meeting held at Anthiyur in Erode district on Sunday (June 28, 2026) resolved to oppose the proposed shifting of the venue of the annual horse fair being held during Gurunathaswamy Temple car festival and warned of protests if the decision was implemented without public consensus. The Gurunathaswamy Temple car festival at Anthiyur Pudupalayam is scheduled to be held from August 12 to 15. The annual horse fair, considered one of the largest in the country, is organised alongside the festival and attracts horse breeders and traders from several States.
The fair is held on about 10 acres of private agricultural land on the road leading to the Konnamarathu Ayyan Temple, with the land being leased for six days. Horse breeders have sought to shift the fair to Koochikallur on Vellithiruppur Road, citing difficulties at the existing venue. They said the site becomes slushy and waterlogged during the monsoon, making it difficult to park vehicles transporting horses and causing inconvenience to traders and visitors. However, residents, members of the temple administration and representatives of various political parties opposed the proposal, contending that the horse fair is an integral part of the temple festival and should continue to be held at its traditional venue.
The all-party consultation meeting, held at the Konnamarathu Ayyan Temple, was presided over by former DMK MLA A.G. Venkatachalam. Speakers urged the authorities not to relocate the fair and said it should continue to be held at the existing site. The meeting resolved to submit a petition to the Anthiyur Tahsildar and the Block Development Officer on July 1, urging them not to shift the fair venue. It was also decided that villagers would stage a road blockade if an amicable solution was not reached.
Among those present were DMK functionaries, AIADMK representatives, Congress leaders, members of the temple administration and local residents.
The BriefWire