In Kerala, almost every village has its own temple with an annual festival. So there is always a local festival happening somewhere or the other, each with its own flavor and color. The 800 year old Mamankam festival is celebrated annually at the Machad Thiruvanikav temple near Trichur, the cultural capital of Kerala.

Unlike other temple festivals in Kerala where caparisoned elephants are the main attraction, the Machad Mamangam is celebrated with huge models of caparisoned horses. Five villages in the general area of the temple participate in the festival in a competitive but spiritual way. These huge horses are carried by the youth of their respective villages to the temple.