TemplesOf Warangal: Sammakka Sarakka Jathara – The Biggest Tribal Festival of Telangana

Sammakka Saralamma Jatara or Medaram Jatara is a tribal festival of honouring the goddesses celebrated in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh, India.The Jatra begins at Medaram in Tadvai Mandal in Warangal district. It commemorates the fight of a mother and daughter, Sammakka and Saralamma, with the reigning rulers against an unjust law. It is believed that after Kumbha Mela, the Medaram jatara attracts the largest number of devotees in the country.

It is celebrated in Medaram during the time the goddesses of the tribals is believed to visit them. Medaram is a remote place in the Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary, a part of Dandakaranya, the largest surviving forest belt in the Deccan.

^{History :}

The story of Samakka Sarakka has history of 700 years when King Prathaparudra of Kakatiya dynasty used to rule the place. The tribals named Koya tribals used to live in that region and once they happened to find a baby girl playing with a tigress in the midst of forest. The mysterious girl was named ‘Sammakka.’ She was radiant having many powers. In her presence the village was flourishing and soon she became popular for her wish granting powers. She was married to headman of the neighboring village and had a daughter named Sarakka.

At one time there occurred a famine for continuous four years and people were not able to pay their taxes. Pagidda Raju, the subordinate ruler to the King Prathaparudra refused to pay tax and this led to war between the two rulers. During this fight the whole tribal community of the village was involved and Sammakka’s husband and daughter were injured by the fighters. Seeing this Sammakka became very furious and fought with warriors with great strength. Seeing fiery power all warriors were shattered and terrorized. She cursed Kakatiya that dynasty will perish and by doing so she disappeared in forest.

Koyas searched for Samakka and but found only bangles and few pug-marks of a tigress. They revered her as goddesses who had great power to protect the village. In due course of time Kakatiya dynasty was invaded and destroyed by Muslims. But even now the village of Medaram and tribals exist. The tribals of this region have been holding the fair in memory of Samakka and her daughter Sarakka to pursue her blessings upon them, seeking her protection.

Celebrations: A large sea of humans is seen at Medaram. Hundreds of buses and thousands of carts head towards the village. Sammakka goddess is brought from village Chilukalagutta and Sarakka is brought from village Kanneboyinapalle, in form of vermilion and placed on a platforms called Gaddelu. Thousands of people take holy dip at the Jampanna vagu before proceeding to the shrines of Sammakka Sarakka.

A special ritual of weighing against jagerry, called as Bangaram, is observed in the jatara where the person offers his weight jaggery to the goddesses. Thousands of cocks and goats are sacrificed on the name of deities. People dress in colorful attires and sing glories of Sammakka and Sarakka. Media and television telecasts the events in the jatara.

Jampanna Vagu :

Jampanna vagu is a tributary to River Godavari. According to the history, Jampanna is the tribal warrior and the son of Tribal Goddess Sammakka. The Jampanna vagu took his name as he died in a battle fighting against Kakatiyan Army in that stream .The Jampanna vagu is still red in colour marked with the blood of Jampanna. Tribal's believe that taking a holy dip in the red water of Jampanna Vagu remembers them the sacrifice of their gods who save them and also induces courage into their souls.