“Samakka Saralamma Jatara” is expected to witness a record turnout of around 15 million tribals from across the country.

The Medaram Jatara, spanning four days, stands at the pinnacle of spiritual significance for devotees who eagerly await this occasion every two years.

Hundreds of thousands of Adivasis from across the country began thronging Medaram — a tiny hamlet in Tadwai forests of Telangana’s Mulugu district — for the three-day biennial tribal fair “Samakka Saralamma Jatara”

The Festival is scheduled to be held  from February 21 to 24 this year, this festival pays homage to the revered goddesses Sammakka and Saralamma, and is observed biennially in the month of Magha (February) on the full moon day.

Beyond its religious fervour, the jatara serves as a platform for fostering understanding and harmony between visitors and tribal communities, promoting the preservation of their unique traditions, culture, and heritage on a global scale.

History

This event is a testament to the devotion of the Koya tribe, who are joined by people from all walks of life, to commemorate a revolt led by Sammakka and Saralamma, a mother-daughter duo, against the levy of taxes on the tribal populace during a period of drought by the Kakatiya rulers in the 12th century. Though it has started as a small gathering of the Koya tribals, it earned State festival status in 1998.