Medaram jatara or Sammakka Saralamma jatara is a tribal festival honoring goddesses Actually this Jatra is celebrated in Telanagana State and begins at Medaram in Tadvai Mandal of Warangal district.Medaram is located 120 km away from Warangal city, which in turn is about 140 km from the state capital Hyderabad. It commemorates the fight of a mother and daughter, Sammakka and Saralamma against the reigning rulers against an unjust law of the rulers at that time kakathiyas It is believed that after Kumbha Mela, the Medaram jatara attracts the largest number of devotees in the india.as this is the first time the jatara is going to be conducted after Telagana seperate state is formed Medaram jatara 2016
History of Medaram Jatara
There are many legendary stories about the miraculous powers of Godess sammakka saralamma the mother and daughter. According to a tribal story its belived that about 6 to 7 centuries ago that it is in the 13th century, some tribal leaders in 13th century who went for a hunting found a new born girl Sammakka emitting enormous light playing amidst tigers(Godess Durga). She was taken to their habitation by the tribes The head of the tribes adopted her as his daughter and brought up as a chief tain She later became the saviour of the tribals of the medaram region she was married to Pagididda Raju a feudatory tribal chief of Kakatiyas who ruled the country of Andhra region from Warangal City between 1000 AD and 1380 AD .Sammakka was blessed with 2 daughters and one son namely Sarakka, Nagulamma and Jampanna respectively for the warrior godess sammakka and Pagididda Raju .
After sometime, there was a severe drought that lasted for years and as a result the mighty Godavari River dried up. pagedde Raju didn't pay tribute to King Pratapa Rudra. In turn king Pratapa rudra sent his army to subdue the tribals and collect the tribute. Then a War was fought between tribal chief pagidde Raju and Kakatiya army on the banks of "Sampenga Vagu" (Jampanna Vagu). The Koya army fought valiantly but could not with stand the well equipped Kakatiya army. Though fought valiantly Pagididda Raju, his daughters Sarakka, Nagulamma, son in law Govinda Raju lost (husband of Sarakka) lives in the battle. Later Jampanna also dies in Sampenga Vagu (after renamed as Jampanna Vagu in the memory of his heroic fight against well trained Kakatiya army). .
Upon hearing this news Sammakka also enters war and fights and causes lot of damage to kakatiya army. Surprised by her Bravery And Valour the Kakatiya Prime Minister visited war ravaged Koya kingdom with proposal of peace and offered Sammakka a place in the emperor’s harem as the chief queen. Samakka turned down the offer and resolved to continue the fight to avenge the dead. The battle continued and Sammakka was seriously wounded . Samakka told her people that as long as they remembered her, she would protect them. Then, she cursed the Kaktiya dynasty to perish And with that wounded body proceeded towards Chilakala gutta and disappeared in the forest. The grieving Koyas searched for their queen all they found were a red ochre box(a container of vermilion), her bangles … and the pug marks of a huge full grown tigress, exactly the same place where she was found as a infant by the koyas. The Kakatiya dynasty came to an end very soon. Since then the Koyas, Waddaras and other Indian tribes and castes have been holding festivals in memory of Sammakka and Sarakka regularly .
Many a pilgrim pay their promises made to goddess during the Jatra, by offering Jaggery, calfs, coconuts and donations in cash etc. Pilgrims take bathe in Jampanna stream to get purified and absolve from sins.
On the special day - Maghasudha pournami
The actual festival begins in the month of Magha, on Sudha Pournami (full moon day) evening when Sarakka (in the form of a vermilion) would be traditionally brought from Kanneboyinapalle, a neibhouring village in the forest, and placed on a gadde, an earthen platform raised under a tree.
By next sunset,the main goddess Sammakka (in the form of a vermilion) will be brought from Chilukalagutta. There are two gaddes (platforms) Separately one for goddess "Sammakka" and other for goddess "Sarakka". They are represented by bamboo sticks smeared with turmeric and vermilion (Pasupu and Kunkuma). Since time immemorial, there is a huge tree standing on Sammakka gadde.
When the priests bring out the ochre box and other relics from a hidden forest location, there is great tumult with frenzied beating of drums, blowing of trumpets and full throated yells. It is said that during the festival a huge tiger prowls around peacefully. Offerings are coconuts and jaggery. They are piled at the foot of the trees.
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 (Scientifically the red colour of the water is attributed to the soil composition). Tribal's believe that taking a holy dip in the red water of Jampanna Vagu reminds them the sacrifice of their gods who save them and also induces courage into their souls. There is a bridge constructed on top of Jampanna Vagu, known as Jampanna Vagu bridge.
Sammakka Sarakka Jathara is going to start in 3rd week (17th to 20th) of Feb for 2016 year. i.e magha sudha pournami days. The Jatra begins at Medaram in Tadvai mandal of Warangal district in the month of February once in every two years and will continue for 3 days. Sammakka Jatra is a state festival of govt. of Telangana State.
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