Medaram: The biennial Medaram Jatara is the second-largest fair of India, after the Kumbh Mela, celebrated by the second-largest tribal community of Telangana- the Koya tribe for four days.
The celebrations of the first day of the auspicious and much-awaited biennial Medaram Jathara commenced as the arrival of Saralamma onto the ‘Medaram Gaddhe’ (Platform) was undertaken by the Koya tribe on February 16, 2022.
As the largest tribal fair in Asia, Medaram Jathara 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.
Saralamma was the daughter of Sammakka. Her idol, according to the rituals, is installed in a temple at Kannepalli, a small village near Medaram.
In the early hours of the day, Pujaris (Priests) performed sacred pujas. The traditional Koya priests (Kaka Vaddes) brought on the first day, the insignia (Aderalu / Sacred pots and Bandaru / Mix of turmeric and saffron powders) of the goddess Saralamma from Kannepally and placed on her Gadde (platform) in Medaram, amidst their traditional musical beats (Doli / cylindrical drum, Akkum / brass blowing instrument, Thootha Kommu / bison-horn blowing instrument, cymbals, etc.) and danced with huge processions/prostrations of the pilgrims seeking boons for children, and others.
Similarly, on the same day by evening the insignia of Sammakka’s husband Pagididda Raju – flag, Aderalu and Bandaru – was brought by Penka Vaddes from Punugondla village, Kothaguda Mandal, Mahbubabad district to Medaram. Likewise, the insignia of the deities of Govindaraju, brother-in-law of Sammakka and Nagulamma, sister of Sammakka are also brought by Dubbagatta Vaddes from the village Kondayi, Eturunagaram Mandal, Jayashankar Bhupalpally district to Medaram.
Several pilgrims of different villages and various Scheduled Tribes assembled there to celebrate the festival. The villages of Kannepalli performed ‘Aarti’ and organized grand farewells to Saralamma. Subsequently, the idol of Saralamma was brought to Medaram Gaddhe through ‘Jampanna Vaagu’ (a small canal named after Jampanna). After arriving on to the ‘Gaddhe’ Saralamma was worshipped with special pujas and other rituals.
More than 3 million devotees visit Saralamma and offer special pujas as a part of the Medaram Jathara. At present, the Jathara festival is biennially celebrated and organized by the Koyas in collaboration with the Tribal Welfare Department, Government of Telangana.
– global bihari bureau
