(THE GIST OF PIB) Sammakka-Saralamma Jatara

(FEBRUARY-2024)

Recently, the Union Minister for Tribal Affairs visited the Sammakka- Saralamma Maha Jatara, in Medaram, Mulugu district of Telangana.

It is also known as Medaram Jatara.
It is a tribal festival honouring the goddesses celebrated in the state of Telangana.
The festival is a demonstration of tribal devotion, and people from all walks of life join together to commemorate the revolt led by Sammakka and Saralamma, a mother-daughter duo, against imposing taxes on the tribal populace during a period of drought by the Kakatiya rulers in the 12th century.
Location: Medaram is a remote place in the Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary, a part of Dandakaranya, the largest surviving forest belt in Mulugu.
It is held every two years (biannually). It is celebrated during the time the goddesses of the tribals are believed to visit them.
Ritual: People offer bangaram/gold (jaggery) of a quantity equal to their weight to the goddesses and take a holy bath in Jampanna Vagu, a tributary to River Godavari.
Significance: It serves as a platform for understanding and fostering harmony between the people and tribal communities, promoting the preservation of their unique traditions, culture, and heritage on a global scale.