Though it has a rich history, the almost 1,000-year-old Kannapuram Kangayam cattle mela is yet to get its deserved attention in the official tourism itinerary.

A plan chalked out by the Tourism department with the district administration in 2010 to promote the festival on the scale of Pushkar Mela in Rajasthan, at an initial estimated outlay of Rs.15 lakh, has not been implemented.

The mela, held along with the annual temple car festival of the 11th century Vikramacholeesvara temple and the three-century-old Arulmigu Mariamman temple near Kangayam, is attended by lakhs of farmers and breeders to display and trade in pure Kangayam cattle.

Tourism department officials told The Hindu that as per the 2010 plan, special tourism promotional material on the event was to be brought out and circulated among travel agents in the country and abroad to attract tourists in large numbers.

“At present, even the website of the Tamil Nadu tourism department has not given any place for this traditionally rich event,” officials said........Read More

Source: The Hindu