The historic ‘Medaram Jatara’ or ‘Sammakka Saralamma Jatara’, a four-day mega tribal festival, began at Medaram village in Mulugu district of Telangana on February 16 with participation of thousands of devotees.

The largest tribal fair in Asia

• ‘Medaram Jatara’ is the second largest fair in India, after the Kumbh Mela, celebrated by the second largest tribal community of Telangana — the Koya tribe. 

• It is celebrated once in two years in the month of 'Magha' (February) on the full moon day. 

• It is the largest tribal fair in Asia.

• During the ‘Sammakka Saralamma Jatara’, declared a state festival by the Telangana government, tribal devotees offer obeisance to Goddesses Sammakka and her daughter Saralamma at Medaram which is located in a forest area.

• As per folklore, the festival commemorates the fight of Sammakka and Saralamma against the oppression of Kakatiya rulers.

• The Adivasis living in forest fringe habitations in several states along the river Godavari congregate once in two years to celebrate the valour of their kin Sammakka and Saralamma. They treat them as Goddesses and hail their bravery in trying to protect them.

• On the first day of the festival, the traditional arrival of Saralamma on the ‘Medaram Gaddhe’ (platform) was undertaken by the Koya Tribe of Telangana. The second day marked the arrival of Sammakka. The jatara will culminate with ‘Vana Pravesham’ ritual on February 19.

• Jaggery is the traditional offering made to the deities. The tribals offer jaggery of their weight considering it to be gold. They also offer red blouse pieces, vermilion, and turmeric to the deities in large quantities. They take a little part of the same as prasadam from the altar back to their homes.

• They also take a holy dip in Jampanna Vagu (stream).

• Large number of devotees from Telangana and other states, including Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, are thronging the remote hamlet bursting at seams once in two years during the jatara. 

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