Sammakka Saralamma Jatara or Medaram Jatara is a tribal festival of honouring the goddesses celebrated in the state of Telangana, India. The Jatara begins at Medaram in Tadvai Mandal in Warangal district.Medaram is a remote place in the Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary, a part of Dandakaranya, the largest surviving forest belt in the Deccan.
Shrine’s History
Jatara is 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 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 newborn girl 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 .
She was blessed with 2 daughters and one son namely Sarakka, Nagulamma and Jampanna respectively. Sammakka Sarakka Jatara is a Hindu tribal festival, held at about 100 km 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 reach to the festive place to celebrate the Jatara. People offer bangaram/gold to their weight to the goddesses and take holy bath in Jampanna Vagu. It is a festival with no Vedic or Brahmanic influence. 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.
Shrine’s Map Location and How to Go There
By Road
The nearest bus stop is Medaram
By Rail
The nearest railway station is Kazipet Railway Station is one of the major junctions which is very well connected with Hyderabad and Warangal Railway Station.
By Air
The nearest airport is Shamshabad Hyderabad.
Events Celebrated at This Shrine
Sammakka Saralamma Jatara
