Medaram Jatara - 2016

Sammakka Saralamma jatara is here again in Warangal.  This will be held from 17th to 20th of February.  Lakhs of people will be visiting Medaram to celebrate.  On these day it will be difficult to visit the pedestal of Goddess.  So, many people have started visiting Medaram and presenting their offerings from past two weeks. The rush is more on Sundays.  Here are few pictures taken at Medaram Jatara on 24th - Sunday.

Journey thru forest is pleasant

Monkeys coming on to the road in the forest

People coming in large groups

Police stream lining the traffic

Queue line to he pedestal

Chiming bells before entering the area of 'gaddelu'

At Sammakka 'gadde'

Offering 'bangaram'

To be carried on head only

Medical camp

Staff functioning sincerely

Stalls at Jatara

Tribals At Sammakka Jatara

Sammakka jatara, now called as Telangana ‘kumbha mela’ was held from 12 to 15^th February, this year.  I had the opportunity to visit Medaram.  Though people were visiting the site from last one month the number visited on 13^th and 14^th February is in lakhs.  The site was sea of people. 

Primarily it was a tribal fair.  But in due course all others started visiting to get blessings of the Tribal warrior goddess.  People who visit once will revisit for their wishes are fulfilled.  They come and present goddess with ‘gold’ (jaggery). 

Tribals who visit the jatara also have makeshift shops.  They sell different type of wares, generally different kind of beads and roots and herbs.  Some also give predictions about future when asked for.  Here are few pictures of beautiful tribals at Jatara.

Young mother with child in her lap.  Selling things to ward of
evil eye.  When will she have a comfortable life?

These cute girls were did not object to photograph.
The one in blue saree wanted to see her photo in
'paper'.  I said it will be in computer (net).

'Koya dora'.  Has some books and many roots and herbs.
He will read the futrue and also gives some roots to overcome
hurdles in life.

This woman is making bands with beads.  She is totally
engrossed in her work

These guys seem to be educated.  But they want to know
their future from this Koya dora.

Somehow tribal woman don't mind being photographed.
But they never look up straight at camera.

I liked this girls hair style and decoration.
young tribal girls adorn with simple jewellery and
colorful clothing.  They look so beautiful in their attire

When I wanted click the boy with peacock he looked at me
and gave a broad lively smile.

Medaram Jatara

Sammakka Sarakka Jatara or Medaram Jatara in Warangal is the biggest tribal fair held once every two year. This tribal fair is held as festival in Warangal district. This is held in the month of Magha (Telugu calendar) which usually falls in February. This year it is a bit early and Jatara is celebrated from 27th to 30th January. There is historic background to this festival.
There is history saying that in 12th century Kakatiya king attacked tribal king for not paying dues. Tribal king and king’s wife Sammakka, her daughters Sarakka (Saralamma), Nagulamma and son Jampanna fought with the Kakatiya Army. The tribal king and his daughters died in the war. Jampanna, disheartened with the death of his family members drowned himself in a stream (now called Jampanna vaagu). Sammakka fought bravely and Kakatiya Army which found difficulty in facing her back stabbed her. Seriously injured Sammakka disappeared into the forest (Chilakala gutta) never to be traced. After sometime some tribals had a dream that Sammakka is at a particular place in the form of Kum Kum Bharina. They went and searched in that place and found it. They brought it to Medaram and placed it at ‘Gadde’ and started worshipping her. Since then this ritual of fair and festival is going on every two years.
For the past few years the devotees to these Jatara have increased. People from adjacent districts and states also visit this place.
This Jatara is also celebrated at larger scale at Agram Pahad which is about 20Km from Hanamkonda. This is also called as ‘Chinna Medaram’. It is easy to go there the devotees are very less when compared to that at Medaram. People of Telangana want this to be given the place of national festival as it is attracting people from all over the nation and those who stay in other countries also come here to visit the deities during jatara and take blessings of Sammakka and Sarakka.
(I did not write details of the story or Jatara as I had already written about it in my previous blog).