Sammakka and Saralamma Jatara
About the Jatara :
- Sammakka Saralamma Jatara (also Sammakka Sarakka Jatara and Medaram Jatara) is a festival to honour the Hindu Tribal goddesses, celebrated in the state of Telangana, India.
- This Jatara is known for witnessing one of the largest people gatherings in the world.
- The rituals related to the Goddesses are entirely conducted by the Koya Tribepriests, in accordance with Koya customs and traditions.
- Medaram is a remote place in the Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary, a part of Dandakaranya, the largest surviving forest belt in the Deccan.
- Jatara celebrated during the time the goddesses (Sammakka and Saralamma) of the tribals are believed to visit them.
- It is believed that after Kumbha Mela, the Sammakka Saralamma Jatara attracts the largest number of devotes in the country.
- This Jatara is held Biannually i.e. once in two years for four days starts by arrival of the goddesses to Gaddelu in Medaram and ends by their vanapravēsham (entry into the forest).
- It commemorates the fight of a mother and daughter, “Sammakka and Saralamma” (also known as Sarakka), with the reigning rulers against an unjustice law(rule).
Syllabus : Prelims; Art and Culture
