Jataro Jatara
Medaram Jatara
Sammakka Jatara
Sarakka Jatara
Veeravanithala koliche
Girijanula Jatara
Mehalalaku sphurthi
Medaram Jatara
Sammakka Jatara
Sarakka Jatara
Jataro Jatara.
Jatara is a festival held in place once in a year or any specified period of time. It is a grand festival held in relation to a deity at a place on a particular day or days. A story will be related to the performance of celebrations. In Andhra Pradesh jataras will be held in various places at various periods in the year. The days of celebrations are usually in relation to the Telugu year and ‘thithi’. There always a story behind every Jatara. It will be in relation to a God who has come to that place to help people or the saints or great personalities who worked for the betterment of the people or rescued people from some calamity or destruction or villainous persons.
Sammakka Jatara is held at Medaram village. This is a tiny tribal village under Urattam Panchayat(local administrative body) of Tadwai Mandal – Eturunagaram of Warangal district in Andhra Pradesh-India. Urattam panchayat has five villages – Reddigudem, Kannepalli, Kothuru, Medaram and Urattam. There are about 55o houses and a population of about 3000. Medaram has less than hundred houses. This village is has more of forest area and fields. Other than three days of Jatara this village has very little activity.
Medaram Sammakka Jatara is held once in two years on the day of Magha pournimi which usually comes in the month of February. Jatara is held for three days. On these days lakhs of devotees come to this place to worship Sammakka and Saramma and offerings given in the form of money or material.
The story behind this Jatara has historical linkage. During the period 1260-1320AD Warangal, then known as Orugallu was under the ruling of Prataparudra Chakravarthi – Kakatiya Dynasty. Small tribal kingdoms were under Kakatiya Kings and they would pay the king some amount as tax. Medaram was also under Kakatiyans. For three to four years people of Medaram had severe drought and they could not pay their due amount. This made Prataparudra Chakravarthi furious and he sent his minister to Medaram to collect taxes. The ruler of Medaram – the tribal King Pagididda Raju, expressed the inability of his people to pay the Kakatiya King. The Kakatiya King has sent his army to fight the tribals. Though not well armed as Kakatiya Soldiers the tribal fought the battle. In that battle the tribal king Pagididda Raju his daughter Nagulamma, Sarakka, and son-in-law Govinda Raju died. His son Jampanna though fought for some time he was disheartened by the death of his family members committed suicide by drowning himself in Sampangi Vaagu (a canal). Then Sammakka, his wife, fought ferociously with kakatiya soldiers. Prataparudra Chakravarthi’s soldiers could not fight her and so attacked her from behind. Sammakka severely wounded and with bleeding wounds retreated into the forest. Soldiers followed her but after traveling some distance in the forest she disappeared. Unable to trace her they returned. Later when the tribals tried to trace her they could not find her. They found ‘Kumkum Bharina’(a small box with red colour powder made out of turmeric, which is applied a dot – bottu – on the fore-head). This was thought to represent Sammakka and brought to the village and worshipped.
As her disappearance her birth also is an enigma. Some say that she was born in Agrampad village. She disappeared from the village and later found in the nearby forest. Though her birth in Agrampad is not accepted by many but every one accepts that she was found as a child playing with lions and tigers and amidst wild animals. The tribal leader brings this child to his village and takes care of her and brings her up. Her foster father gets her married to the tribal king Pagididda Raju. As she was brought from the forest and disappeared in the forest she is believed to be goddess and worshipped by the tribal people.
There is no idol form of Sammakka. Only Kumkum bharina is worshipped as Sammakka. As this Kumkum bharina is brought from the forest on the hillock Chilakala gutta, once in every two years (even years - 1982,1984,1986, so on) on Magha poornima as per Telugu calendar. After worship for two days, poornima and the following day the Kumkum bharina is again put back in cave on Chilakala gutta.
Medaram Sammakka Jatara is biggest fair in Asia. This festive fair held in Warangal district has gained great attraction from non tribals and even some non resident Indians. Every Jatara the number of devotees attending the festival is increasing in multiples. The festive Jatara is declared as State Festival by the state government of Andhra Pradesh in the 1996 by the then chief minister Shri Nara Chandrababu Naidu. Since then various state departments are taking part in the celebrations.
There is a story that this Jatara was initially held in the village-Bayyakkapeta, which is about 15KM from Medaram. In those days tribal residents of Bayyakkapeta would go to nearby Devunigutta and bring Sammakka-Saramma on to the specific place ‘gaddelu’. Here they would keep Kumkum bharina and also bamboo saplings. The priests-‘vaddelu’ who belong to Medaram would carry out the ceremonius worship of Sammakka and Sarakka. It was carried out there for quite a long time. When this ‘gaddelu was shifted to Medaram is not clear. As evidence to that the Jatara was held there t here is temple of Sammakka and Sarakka to the right of main road to the village. Gaddelu with bamboo shoots also present. There is a well on Devunigutta which previously would over flow with water. Just beside this well there is a cavern. People over here strongly believe that Sammakka and Sarakka dwell there. So every two years ‘vaddelu’ would come over here take ritual bath at the well and take the goddess’ from the cavern and after celebration of worship for three days they would bring back the goddess’ to that cavern. It is strongly believed that on the day the goddess’ were brought out from the Devunigutta there would be lightening. After the Jatara shifted to Medaram no such lightening is seen and the well on Devunigutta also dried up. Even now Jatara is celebrated in this village. Exactly one week after the Jatara at Medaram this village celebrates ‘terugu varam’ (return week) Jatara. All the villagers make it a point to invite their close relatives and celebrate as per tribal tradition.
Medaram Jatara is being celebrated not only by tribals but also people belonging to other village and also tribals living in nearby states since 1950s. In the early days though only tribals participated in the Jatara later on, people from nearby villages also started visiting the place on the eve of Jatara. As people started believing that their prayers were answered or wishes fulfilled the number of devotees started increasing in multiple thousands and lakhs. As the number of devotees thronging this tiny tribal village in lakhs the state government takes all steps to ensure safe conduct of the proceedings.
As a ritual this Jatara is held once in two years on Magha poornima. A day before Sammakka’s arrival to gaddelu Pagididda Raju and Govindaraju (Sarakka’s husband) first arrive to Medaram Sammakka temple.Pagididda Raju is supposed to dwell at Ponagondla hillock of Kothaguda which about 80km from Medaram. Pagididda Raju is carried in tribal traditions by Punem dynasty people to Medaram on foot. It takes two days for them to go to Medaram. On the way they have a night halt at some village and again travel on foot and reach Medaram a day before poornima. Govinda Raju son-in-law of Sammakka will be brought from Konda rayi is also carried to Medaram gaddelu in tribal traditions
Sammakka’s daughter Sarakka is also brought to Medaram on the same day from Kannepalli village in tribal tradition. Daughters belonging to the ‘vadde’ family (vaddela adabiddalu) make it a point to visit their native village for this Jatara. They reach the gaddelu at Medaram before Sarakka arrives and tie ‘kankanalu’(sacred bands tied to the hand) to five village elders. This is called offering ‘bottu’. After this these women reach Kannepalli. At Kannepalli in Sarakka temple sacred rituals are held by the traditional tribal priests. After the ceremonies Sarakka(kumkum bharina) is put in a basket and carry it to Medaram. The travel of 4KM is on foot only. The priests wear white cloths and cover their mouth with red cloth
On the day of ‘Magha poornima’ men belonging to ‘Chanda’ dynasty will reach Chilakalagutta after ritual bathing. In the cave on Chilakalagutta they perform elaborate tribal rituals and then carry Sammakka (kumkum bharina) in a basket covered with red cloth and bring walking all the distance from Chilakalagutta to Medaram gaddelu. After placing the ‘goddess’ on gaddelu traditional worship is done and the full-fledged Jatara is said to be started. The divine family of Sammakka is said to be there for the next day and on the following day Sammakka and Sarakka are again taken back to their respective abodes. Pagididda Raju and Govinda Raju are again taken back to their original places. The Jatara then comes to an end.
During the two day stay of Sammakka and Sarakka large number of tribal and non-tribal devotees throng the place for worship and make wishes. Those devotees whose wishes are fulfilled present offerings(‘mokkulu chellinchatamu’).
The offerings are in general made in the form of breaking coconuts and offering jaggery, kumkum and turmeric. Some people offer their weight of jaggery. Here jaggery is termed as ‘gold’. The story behind terming jaggery as gold is - as tribals in those days do not have many material things to offer to Goddess, they prayed her and she said the jaggery they produced its is the best thing and that is gold for offering. Hence, every one who visits the Jatara makes it a point to offer gold (jaggery) to please the deity.
The other offerings are having head shaving and money, clothes, 'odi biyyam' (rice yellowed with turmeric), any other material things they promise to offer if their wishes are fulfilled. . Some women who wish for children lie down on the way of priests to be walked on them. Some offer to sacrifice hen. This as a ritual done by holding a chick in the hand and just flying it in the air and holding back.
This year the Jatara was held on 20th, 21st and 22nd of February. Sixty lakh devotees attended the Jatara. All the district level officials camped at Medaram to supervise activities of their staff at Jatara. 2500 RTC buses thirty thousand trips carrying the devotees to and from Jatara. On 21st February there more than one lakh private vehicles reached Medaram. These vehicles were parked about 10km from gaddelu.
5600 police personnel were deployed. Few thefts of gold jewellery cell phones and pick-pocketing did take place. Though lakhs of people collected within a range of 10km no serious law and order problem occurred.
District health officials held health camps and also established a temporary 40 bedded hospital. More than 20,000 pilgrims received in-patient medical aid. A women also delivered a baby.
With the efforts of District officials and co-operation of the devotees and ‘blessings’ of goddess Sammaka the Jatara had passed of peacefully.
Next Jatara will be held in 2010. I hope then I will take a few photographs at Jatara and post them..
Medaram Jatara
Sammakka Jatara
Sarakka Jatara
Veeravanithala koliche
Girijanula Jatara
Mehalalaku sphurthi
Medaram Jatara
Sammakka Jatara
Sarakka Jatara
Jataro Jatara.
Jatara is a festival held in place once in a year or any specified period of time. It is a grand festival held in relation to a deity at a place on a particular day or days. A story will be related to the performance of celebrations. In Andhra Pradesh jataras will be held in various places at various periods in the year. The days of celebrations are usually in relation to the Telugu year and ‘thithi’. There always a story behind every Jatara. It will be in relation to a God who has come to that place to help people or the saints or great personalities who worked for the betterment of the people or rescued people from some calamity or destruction or villainous persons.
Sammakka Jatara is held at Medaram village. This is a tiny tribal village under Urattam Panchayat(local administrative body) of Tadwai Mandal – Eturunagaram of Warangal district in Andhra Pradesh-India. Urattam panchayat has five villages – Reddigudem, Kannepalli, Kothuru, Medaram and Urattam. There are about 55o houses and a population of about 3000. Medaram has less than hundred houses. This village is has more of forest area and fields. Other than three days of Jatara this village has very little activity.
Medaram Sammakka Jatara is held once in two years on the day of Magha pournimi which usually comes in the month of February. Jatara is held for three days. On these days lakhs of devotees come to this place to worship Sammakka and Saramma and offerings given in the form of money or material.
The story behind this Jatara has historical linkage. During the period 1260-1320AD Warangal, then known as Orugallu was under the ruling of Prataparudra Chakravarthi – Kakatiya Dynasty. Small tribal kingdoms were under Kakatiya Kings and they would pay the king some amount as tax. Medaram was also under Kakatiyans. For three to four years people of Medaram had severe drought and they could not pay their due amount. This made Prataparudra Chakravarthi furious and he sent his minister to Medaram to collect taxes. The ruler of Medaram – the tribal King Pagididda Raju, expressed the inability of his people to pay the Kakatiya King. The Kakatiya King has sent his army to fight the tribals. Though not well armed as Kakatiya Soldiers the tribal fought the battle. In that battle the tribal king Pagididda Raju his daughter Nagulamma, Sarakka, and son-in-law Govinda Raju died. His son Jampanna though fought for some time he was disheartened by the death of his family members committed suicide by drowning himself in Sampangi Vaagu (a canal). Then Sammakka, his wife, fought ferociously with kakatiya soldiers. Prataparudra Chakravarthi’s soldiers could not fight her and so attacked her from behind. Sammakka severely wounded and with bleeding wounds retreated into the forest. Soldiers followed her but after traveling some distance in the forest she disappeared. Unable to trace her they returned. Later when the tribals tried to trace her they could not find her. They found ‘Kumkum Bharina’(a small box with red colour powder made out of turmeric, which is applied a dot – bottu – on the fore-head). This was thought to represent Sammakka and brought to the village and worshipped.
As her disappearance her birth also is an enigma. Some say that she was born in Agrampad village. She disappeared from the village and later found in the nearby forest. Though her birth in Agrampad is not accepted by many but every one accepts that she was found as a child playing with lions and tigers and amidst wild animals. The tribal leader brings this child to his village and takes care of her and brings her up. Her foster father gets her married to the tribal king Pagididda Raju. As she was brought from the forest and disappeared in the forest she is believed to be goddess and worshipped by the tribal people.
There is no idol form of Sammakka. Only Kumkum bharina is worshipped as Sammakka. As this Kumkum bharina is brought from the forest on the hillock Chilakala gutta, once in every two years (even years - 1982,1984,1986, so on) on Magha poornima as per Telugu calendar. After worship for two days, poornima and the following day the Kumkum bharina is again put back in cave on Chilakala gutta.
Medaram Sammakka Jatara is biggest fair in Asia. This festive fair held in Warangal district has gained great attraction from non tribals and even some non resident Indians. Every Jatara the number of devotees attending the festival is increasing in multiples. The festive Jatara is declared as State Festival by the state government of Andhra Pradesh in the 1996 by the then chief minister Shri Nara Chandrababu Naidu. Since then various state departments are taking part in the celebrations.
There is a story that this Jatara was initially held in the village-Bayyakkapeta, which is about 15KM from Medaram. In those days tribal residents of Bayyakkapeta would go to nearby Devunigutta and bring Sammakka-Saramma on to the specific place ‘gaddelu’. Here they would keep Kumkum bharina and also bamboo saplings. The priests-‘vaddelu’ who belong to Medaram would carry out the ceremonius worship of Sammakka and Sarakka. It was carried out there for quite a long time. When this ‘gaddelu was shifted to Medaram is not clear. As evidence to that the Jatara was held there t here is temple of Sammakka and Sarakka to the right of main road to the village. Gaddelu with bamboo shoots also present. There is a well on Devunigutta which previously would over flow with water. Just beside this well there is a cavern. People over here strongly believe that Sammakka and Sarakka dwell there. So every two years ‘vaddelu’ would come over here take ritual bath at the well and take the goddess’ from the cavern and after celebration of worship for three days they would bring back the goddess’ to that cavern. It is strongly believed that on the day the goddess’ were brought out from the Devunigutta there would be lightening. After the Jatara shifted to Medaram no such lightening is seen and the well on Devunigutta also dried up. Even now Jatara is celebrated in this village. Exactly one week after the Jatara at Medaram this village celebrates ‘terugu varam’ (return week) Jatara. All the villagers make it a point to invite their close relatives and celebrate as per tribal tradition.
Medaram Jatara is being celebrated not only by tribals but also people belonging to other village and also tribals living in nearby states since 1950s. In the early days though only tribals participated in the Jatara later on, people from nearby villages also started visiting the place on the eve of Jatara. As people started believing that their prayers were answered or wishes fulfilled the number of devotees started increasing in multiple thousands and lakhs. As the number of devotees thronging this tiny tribal village in lakhs the state government takes all steps to ensure safe conduct of the proceedings.
As a ritual this Jatara is held once in two years on Magha poornima. A day before Sammakka’s arrival to gaddelu Pagididda Raju and Govindaraju (Sarakka’s husband) first arrive to Medaram Sammakka temple.Pagididda Raju is supposed to dwell at Ponagondla hillock of Kothaguda which about 80km from Medaram. Pagididda Raju is carried in tribal traditions by Punem dynasty people to Medaram on foot. It takes two days for them to go to Medaram. On the way they have a night halt at some village and again travel on foot and reach Medaram a day before poornima. Govinda Raju son-in-law of Sammakka will be brought from Konda rayi is also carried to Medaram gaddelu in tribal traditions
Sammakka’s daughter Sarakka is also brought to Medaram on the same day from Kannepalli village in tribal tradition. Daughters belonging to the ‘vadde’ family (vaddela adabiddalu) make it a point to visit their native village for this Jatara. They reach the gaddelu at Medaram before Sarakka arrives and tie ‘kankanalu’(sacred bands tied to the hand) to five village elders. This is called offering ‘bottu’. After this these women reach Kannepalli. At Kannepalli in Sarakka temple sacred rituals are held by the traditional tribal priests. After the ceremonies Sarakka(kumkum bharina) is put in a basket and carry it to Medaram. The travel of 4KM is on foot only. The priests wear white cloths and cover their mouth with red cloth
On the day of ‘Magha poornima’ men belonging to ‘Chanda’ dynasty will reach Chilakalagutta after ritual bathing. In the cave on Chilakalagutta they perform elaborate tribal rituals and then carry Sammakka (kumkum bharina) in a basket covered with red cloth and bring walking all the distance from Chilakalagutta to Medaram gaddelu. After placing the ‘goddess’ on gaddelu traditional worship is done and the full-fledged Jatara is said to be started. The divine family of Sammakka is said to be there for the next day and on the following day Sammakka and Sarakka are again taken back to their respective abodes. Pagididda Raju and Govinda Raju are again taken back to their original places. The Jatara then comes to an end.
During the two day stay of Sammakka and Sarakka large number of tribal and non-tribal devotees throng the place for worship and make wishes. Those devotees whose wishes are fulfilled present offerings(‘mokkulu chellinchatamu’).
The offerings are in general made in the form of breaking coconuts and offering jaggery, kumkum and turmeric. Some people offer their weight of jaggery. Here jaggery is termed as ‘gold’. The story behind terming jaggery as gold is - as tribals in those days do not have many material things to offer to Goddess, they prayed her and she said the jaggery they produced its is the best thing and that is gold for offering. Hence, every one who visits the Jatara makes it a point to offer gold (jaggery) to please the deity.
The other offerings are having head shaving and money, clothes, 'odi biyyam' (rice yellowed with turmeric), any other material things they promise to offer if their wishes are fulfilled. . Some women who wish for children lie down on the way of priests to be walked on them. Some offer to sacrifice hen. This as a ritual done by holding a chick in the hand and just flying it in the air and holding back.
This year the Jatara was held on 20th, 21st and 22nd of February. Sixty lakh devotees attended the Jatara. All the district level officials camped at Medaram to supervise activities of their staff at Jatara. 2500 RTC buses thirty thousand trips carrying the devotees to and from Jatara. On 21st February there more than one lakh private vehicles reached Medaram. These vehicles were parked about 10km from gaddelu.
5600 police personnel were deployed. Few thefts of gold jewellery cell phones and pick-pocketing did take place. Though lakhs of people collected within a range of 10km no serious law and order problem occurred.
District health officials held health camps and also established a temporary 40 bedded hospital. More than 20,000 pilgrims received in-patient medical aid. A women also delivered a baby.
With the efforts of District officials and co-operation of the devotees and ‘blessings’ of goddess Sammaka the Jatara had passed of peacefully.
Next Jatara will be held in 2010. I hope then I will take a few photographs at Jatara and post them..
