Union Minister Munda to impress upon PM Modi in Medaram Sammakka Saralamma jatara

Medaram (Mulugu): Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda on Saturday promised that he would his best to accord the national festival status to the biennial Sammakka Saralamma jatara.

Munda was here on Saturday to pay obeisance to the tribal deities - Sammakka and Saralamma. The Ministers Errabelli Dayakar Rao, Satyavathi Rathod, Allola Indrakaran Reddy and tribal priests who accompanied him, explained about the significance of the Adivasi jatara, said to be the largest tribal fair in Asia.

The Telangana Minister on the occasion urged the Union Minister to give national status to the tribal festival.

Referring to the national festival status, Munda said that he would take it to the notice of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "I will strive to make it happen to fulfil the aspirations of the Adivasis," Munda said. Expressing happiness over visiting the tribal shrine, he lauded the administration for making elaborate arrangements for the comfort of devotees turning to Medaram.

"Ensuring amenities such as transportation, drinking water, sanitation to lakhs of devotees and organising the jatara in a fool-proof manner is not all that easy. Indeed, it was commendable job on the part of the State government" the Union Minister said.

"Moreover, the government has ensured customs and traditions of the aboriginals while conducting the jatara," Munda said. "Even though they are not affluent, the Adivasis are rich in culture and tradition," he added.

The jatara is no more a tribal fiesta, it's a festival of all the people, he said.

Earlier, the Union Minister offered bangaram (jaggery) equal to his weight (Tulabharam) to the deities.

Transport Minister Puvvada Ajay Kumar, Assembly Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Legislative Council Chairman Gutta Sukhender Reddy, local MLA Seethakka, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, DGP M Mahender Reddy, Mulugu In-charge Collector R V Karnan and I&PR RJD DS Jagan were among others present.