Medaram Jatara Festival

Sammakka- Saralamma Maha Jatara, celebrated at Medaram in Telangana is a biennial tribal festival. It is the second-largest fair of India, after the Kumbh Mela, celebrated by the Koya tribe for four days. This year it is being celebrated from 21st-24th February, 2024, in collaboration with the Tribal Welfare Department, Government of Telangana. Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda visited the festival recently.

Ministry sanctions 2.30 Crores

Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs sanctions Rs. 2.30 Crores for the Medaram Jatara 2024, to promote its tribal culture and heritage. The activities range from promotion of Medaram tribal culture and heritage including a documentary on Medaram Jatara, exhibition-cum-sale of tribal arts, crafts and cuisine, National Tribal Dance festival, Strengthening of Tribal and Tribal homestays, competitions for tribal youth and students in various activities, among others.

The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs released Rs. 2 crores for the Jatara held in the years 2018 and 2020, while releasing Rs. 2.26 crores in 2022. The fund was used to strengthen the Medaram Tribal Museum and the Cultural Complex, among other activities.

Where is Medaram?
Medaram is a remote place in the Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary, a part of Dandakaranya, the largest surviving forest belt in the Deccan.

In who’s honour festival is conducted?

Medaram Jathara festival is conducted in honour of Goddesses Sammakka and Saralamma, in accordance with Koya customs and traditions.  The Jatara is celebrated during the time the goddesses of the tribals are believed to visit them.

When is the festival celebrated?

The Medaram Jathara festival is celebrated once in two years in February or Magha month, on the full moon day. Currently, it is celebrated biennially.

How is the festival celebrated?

Several Scheduled Tribes from different villages assemble during the festival and visit Mulugu District to worship the goddesses. People offer jaggery, locally called as Bangaram, to the deities. It starts with the arrival of the goddesses to Gaddelu in Medaram and ends with their entry into the forest.

Who organises the festival?

The Medaram Jathara festival is organized by the Koya tribes in association with the Tribal Welfare Department of Telangana Government.

When was it designated as state festival?

The Medaram Jathara festival was designated as a State Festival in 1996, because of its significant footfall, popularity and auspicious importance.

Jampanna Vagu

Jampanna Vagu is a tributary to the river Godavari. According to history, Jampanna was a tribal warrior and the son of tribal goddess Sammakka. The Jampanna Vagu took his name after he died in a battle fighting against the Kakatiyan Army in that stream. Tribals believe that taking a holy dip in the water of Jampanna Vagu honours and reminds them of the sacrifice of their deities who saved them

Category: Art & Culture Current Affairs