Medaram Jatara – Medaram is a village in Warangal district, Telangana, India, which is about 240KM from Hyderabad. A popular religious Jatara called “Sammakka Sarakka” jatara takes place for three days biennially in this village.
Sammakka-Sarakka Jatara held by forest dwelling Koya tribe of Telangana and other States, is the biggest Tribal festival in Asia which is attended by two crore people on an average.
When and Why is it held? The event is held bi-annually to honour the twin goddesses Sammakka and her daughter Sarakka. Several communities in Telangana society support Jatara as it is also a mythical narrative of two tribal women leaders who fought against the Kakatiya rulers who tried to annex their land and forests. According to the myth it was Sammakka’s curse which caused gradual decline and death of Kakatiya rule.
Officially conducted by the State government on a massive scale with lakhs of devotees making a beeline to Medaram village to pay homage to tribal mother-daughter warrior duo Samakka and Sarakka who went down fighting the imperial Kakatiya kings 800 years ago
Telangana Government makes all arrangements for this Jatara including Transportation, Cottages, Sanitation, Washrooms, Food, Drinking Water, Security and other aspects with supervision by IAS officers and ministers.
About Jatara (Sammakka Sarakka History)
Sammakka Saralamma Jatara or Medaram Jatara is a festival of honouring the Hindu goddesses, celebrated in the state of Telangana. This Jatara is known for witnessing one of the largest people gatherings in the world. People offer Bangarm (jaggery): The Jatara begins at Medaram in Tadvai mandal in Mulugu district. The rituals related to the Goddesses are entirely conducted by Koya tribe priests, in accordance with Koya customs and traditions.
Once declare a national festival a, jatara can be considered for ‘intangible cultural heritage of humanity’ tag of UNESCO. Jatara celebrated during the time the goddesses of the tribals are believed to visit them. It is believed that after Kumbha Mela, the Medaram jatara attracts the largest number of devotees in the country.it is very Asia’s largest tribal festival which is celebrated in Telangana
Medaram Jatara Festival Schedule
Medaram Jatara for 2020 Year the Jatara will be held from 5th February to 8th February 2020 (4-days)
Day 1 (5-02-2020) Wednesday
Day 2 (06-02-2020) Thursday
Day 3 (07-02-2020)Friday
Day 4 (08-02-2020) Saturday
History
It commemorates the fight of a mother and daughter, Sammakka and Saralamma, with the reigning rulers against an unjust law.
There are many legends about the miraculous powers of Sammakka. According to a tribal story, about 6-7 centuries ago, that is in the 13th century, some tribal leaders who went for a hunting found a new born girl (Sammakka) emitting enormous light playing amidst tigers. She was taken to their habitation, and the head of the tribe adopted her and brought up as a chief. She later became the saviour of the tribals of the region. She was married to Pagididda Raju, a feudatory tribal chief of Kakatiyas (who ruled the country of Telugus from Warangal City between 1000 AD and 1380 AD). She was blessed with 2 daughters and one son namely Sarakka, Nagulamma and Jampanna respectively. Jampanna died in this attack and fell bleeding into a vaagu and later the whole sampangi vaagu has turned red due to which it was later on called JAMPANNA VAAGU near the place where the present mela is taking place.
Ritual
Sammakka Saralamma Jatara is a tribal Hindu festival, held at about 100km from Warangal city. It is the time for the largest tribal congregation in the world, held every two years (biennial), with approximately ten million people converging on the place, over a period of four days. Many tribal devotees from different states of India (Andra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Maharashtra, Karnataka and parts of Jharkhand) reach to the festive place to celebrate the Jatara.
People offer bellam/jaggery to their weight to the goddesses and take holy bath in Jampanna Vagu.
In 2008, nearly 8 million people were estimated to have attended the festival. And in 2012, the gatherings in the jatara are roughly estimated to be 10 million. This fair is said to be the largest repeating congregation of tribal communities in the world.
| Year | Month | Dates | |
| 2010 | January | 27 – 30 | |
| 2012 | February | 08 – 11 | |
| 2014 | February | 12 – 15 | |
| 2016 | February | 17 – 20 | |
| 2018 | January | 31 – 03 |
Jampanna vagu
Jampanna vagu is a tributary to river Godavari. According to the history, Jampanna is the tribal warrior and the son of tribal Goddess Sammakka. The Jampanna vagu took his name as he died in a battle fighting against Kakatiyan Army in that stream. The Jampanna vagu is still red in colour marked with the blood of Jampanna (Scientifically the red colour of the water is attributed to the soil composition). Tribal’s believe that taking a holy dip in the red water of Jampanna Vagu and reminds them the sacrifice of their gods who save them and also induces courage into their souls. There is a bridge constructed on top of Jampanna Vagu, known as Jampanna Vagu bridge.
Transport
Hyderabad to Medaram Bus Timings
The jatara venue is situated at about 100 km from Warangal, 170 km from Karimnagar, 220 km from Suryapet and 250 km from Hyderabad.
Until 1978, the only way to reach Medaram was by a bullock cart. In 1978 then the Andhra Pradesh State Government declared the 1000-yr old festival as official and laid down a motorable road. TSRTC runs multiple buses to the venue during the jatara period. Also, many private vehicles render their services for plying the visitors.
Karimnagar To Medaram Bus Timings
Khammam To Medaram Bus Timings
Hanamakonda to Medaram Bus Timings
Biggest Tribal Festival
Get 2020 Medaram Schedule details here
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