Sammakka Saralamma Jatara
Also known as Medaram Jatara, Sammakka Sarakka Jatara
The great biennial jatara at Medaram honouring the Koya goddesses Sammakka and her daughter Saralamma, one of the largest gatherings of people in India.
Dates
Dates for the next edition haven't been announced here yet. It usually falls in January – February. Organizers can add this year's dates.
History
The jatara commemorates Sammakka and Saralamma, remembered in Koya tradition for resisting the Kakatiya rulers' demands on the forest people. It was declared a state festival in 1996.
Rituals & traditions
Over four days the goddesses are brought from the forest to the gaddelu (platforms) by Koya priests. Devotees offer jaggery, called bangaram (gold), equal to their own weight.
Travel tips
Special buses run from across Telangana during the jatara. Expect heavy traffic on the Mulugu–Tadvai road; plan to walk the last stretch.