Deep in Telangana’s tribal heartland, Medaram village braces for an influx of spiritual energy as the Sammakka Sarakka Jatara unfolds starting Wednesday. Billed as Asia’s largest tribal fair, this bi-annual, four-day event in Mulugu district expects 20 million souls converging on its Godavari banks.
Some 240 km from Hyderabad, the remote site becomes a pulsating hub for Adivasis from seven states plus non-tribals, fostering unity through shared reverence. Nicknamed Telangana’s Kumbh, it embodies cultural resurgence.
A Rs 251 crore state infusion has modernized Medaram, funding roads, amenities, and preservation efforts. Early arrivals have swelled to 10 lakh, priming the sacred grounds.
The epic narrative fueling devotion traces to the 12th century, when Sammakka and daughter Sarakka challenged Kakatiya tyranny over drought-hit tribals. King Medaram’s royalty default led to invasion; all perished heroically. Sammakka’s mystical disappearance birthed enduring symbols.
Every two years, priests perform jungle rites, unearthing Sammakka’s vermilion box and bamboo staff from bamboo thickets, Sarakka’s from Kannepalli. Beneath the Indian elm, the jatara ignites with fervor, culminating in their forest send-off.
Customs thrive: Weight-matched jaggery ‘gold,’ red cloth tributes, sindoor-turmeric heaps—prasad ferried home. Holy dips in Jambanna Vagu invoke the slain son’s legacy for sin absolution.
Unrivaled arrangements include 42,000 officials, 2,000 volunteers, 13,000 police with AI drone oversight and control rooms, ensuring the ancient rite flows seamlessly into the modern era.