The Sammakka Saralamma Jatara at Medaram in Mulugu district is the great biennial festival of the Koya tribal community, honouring the mother and daughter goddesses Sammakka and Saralamma. Over four days in Magha, millions of devotees come to the forest village to offer bangaram – jaggery – and seek the goddesses' blessings.
Festival Dates
Introduction
The Sammakka Saralamma Jatara, known everywhere as the Medaram Jatara, is held at the forest village of Medaram in Tadvai mandal, Mulugu district, Telangana. It honours Sammakka and her daughter Saralamma (also called Sarakka), the revered goddesses of the Koya tribal community. The Maha Jatara is held once every two years in the month of Magha (usually January or February) and lasts four days. It is among the largest tribal gatherings in the world: people of every community, from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring states, come to the forest in their millions. In the years between, a smaller Mini Jatara (Mandamelige) is held at Medaram.
Significance and Legend
According to Koya tradition, Sammakka was found as a child in the forest near Chilakalagutta, protected by wild animals, and was raised by the tribal chief of the area. She married Pagididda Raju, and their children included Saralamma and Jampanna. The tradition remembers a time of drought when the Kakatiya rulers demanded tribute that the tribal people could not pay; Sammakka's family stood up for their people and fought the royal army. Pagididda Raju, Jampanna and others of the family fell in that struggle, and the stream at Medaram where Jampanna fell is honoured as Jampanna Vagu. The wounded Sammakka is believed to have withdrawn into the forest at Chilakalagutta and was not seen again – only a casket of vermilion (kumkum bharani) was found, which the Koya people revere as her sacred presence. The details of the story vary among tellings, but its heart is the same: Sammakka and Saralamma are remembered as mothers who gave everything for their people, and devotees turn to them for courage, protection and the fulfilment of their prayers.
How it is Celebrated
The jatara keeps the Koya way of worship. All the rituals are performed by the Koya pujaris according to their own customs, and there are no idols – the goddesses are present on the sacred platforms (gaddelu) at Medaram in the form of the vermilion casket, brought from the forest in procession to the sound of tribal drums and music. The four days usually follow this order:
- Day 1 (Wednesday): Saralamma is brought from Kannepalli and installed on her gadde in the evening; Pagididda Raju and Govinda Raju are also brought from their villages.
- Day 2 (Thursday): Sammakka is brought down from Chilakalagutta in a grand evening procession to her gadde – the most awaited moment of the jatara.
- Day 3 (Friday): with both goddesses on the gaddelu, devotees offer their prayers and fulfil their vows (mokkulu).
- Day 4 (Saturday): the goddesses return to the forest (vana pravesham) in the evening, and the jatara concludes.
The Maha Jatara is recognised as a state festival, and the Government of Telangana makes large arrangements for the pilgrims, while the rituals remain in the hands of the Koya pujaris. Many families come together, camping in and around the forest for the festival days.
Rituals and Puja
- Holy dip in Jampanna Vagu: devotees bathe in the stream before going for darshan, remembering the sacrifice of Jampanna.
- Darshan at the gaddelu: devotees offer turmeric, kumkum and bangaram at the platforms of Sammakka and Saralamma.
- Fulfilling vows: those whose prayers have been answered come back to offer what they promised the goddesses.
Foods and Offerings
- Bangaram (jaggery) – the special offering of Medaram. Bangaram means gold, and at Medaram the jaggery offered to the goddesses is called gold. Devotees offer it in any quantity, and many who made a vow offer jaggery equal to their own body weight (niluvettu bangaram), weighed on scales at the jatara.
- Turmeric and kumkum – offered at the gaddelu.
Temples Known for this Festival
- Sri Sammakka Saralamma Gaddelu, Medaram – the sacred platforms where the goddesses are enthroned during the jatara.
The Medaram Jatara has no temple building – the goddesses are worshipped on the gaddelu in the open forest, together with the sacred sites of Chilakalagutta, Kannepalli and Jampanna Vagu. Pilgrims travelling through Mulugu district can also visit the UNESCO World Heritage Ramappa Temple at Palampet, in the same district.
The Maha Jatara dates are announced by the Koya pujaris ahead of each jatara and are shown in the festival dates above once announced. The jatara falls in Magha masam every two years.