Context: Recently, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs has sanctioned funds for various activities pertaining to Medaram Jathara 2022.
About Medaram Jatara 

• Medaram Jatara also known as Sammakka Saralamma Jatara is a tribal festival held in the state of Telangana. The festival is conducted in honour of the Goddesses Sammakka and Saralamma. 
• It is celebrated once in two years in the month of “Magha” (February) on the full moon day. It is the second-largest fair in India, after the Kumbh Mela.
• It is organised by Koya Tribe in collaboration with the Tribal Welfare Department, Government of Telangana. 

About Koya Tribe

• ??Koya is a tribal group found in southern India, especially Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. 
• Koyas speaks the Koya language, also known as Koya Basha and is a member of the Dravidian language family. 

Note: Many koya People have forgotten their Koya Dialect and adopted Telugu as their mother tongue but some in other parts still speak Koya dialect.

• The Koyas are mainly settled cultivators and artisans expertise in making bamboo furniture including mats for fencing, dustpans, and baskets. They grow Jowar, Ragi, Bajra and other millets.  

They perform robust colourful dance called Permakok ata (Bison horn dance) during festivals and marriage ceremonies.

By: Shubham Tiwari