Medaram village basks in tribal glory

Warangal: Huge turnout is expected for the mini Sammakka-Saralamma jatara at Medaram in Tadwai mandal, 110 km from district headquarters Warangal, set to begin on Wednesday. Although this fair is not on par with the biennial Medaram jatara in its grandeur, the devotees, especially tribals, in large numbers descend on Medaram village and make it a huge occasion.

• Mini Sammakka- Saralamma jatara begins today
• Fair to witness huge turnout of devotees

The ritual begins amid pomp and gaiety in the month of Magha, on Sudha Pournami (full moon day) evening when Sarakka (in the form of vermilion) would be traditionally brought from Kanneboyinapalle and placed on a gadde (an earthen platform) by a group of tribal priests.

By next sunset, the presiding deity Sammakka (in the form of vermilion) will be brought from Chilukalagutta. The deities - Sammakka and Sarakka - will be placed on two separate gaddes (platforms). The two deities 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.

Amid the frenzy of drum beating and blowing of trumpets, the priests bring out the ochre box and other relics from a hidden forest location. According to elderly people, a huge tiger prowls around peacefully during the festivities. Interestingly, the offerings of the devotees are coconuts and jaggery. Offerings are piled at the foot of the tree where the presiding deities are placed. On the last day, the priests will return them to their forest abodes until the next jatara.

According to the legend, Medaram was the headquarters of a tribal kingdom led by Medaraju under the rule of Kakatiyas. The tribal kingdom in Dandakaranya extended up to some parts of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Odisha. One year, Medaraju failed to pay royalty to the Kakatiya King Pratapa Rudra II as his kingdom reeled under severe drought. They revolted against the rulers.

Fighting the mighty army of the Kakatiyas, Medaraju, his daughter Sammakka and her daughter Sarakka laid down their lives in the battle. Samakka’s husband Pagididda Raju, son-in-law Govindaraju and son Jampanna also lost their lives in the battle. Moved by the courageous fight of the mother and daughter, the Kakatiya kings declared Medaram as an independent kingdom.

After that, the Kakatiya kings started the jatara in commemoration of the valiant fight of Samakka and Saralamma. Meanwhile, the district administration had made elaborate arrangements for the mini jatara. With fear of swine flu causing jitters in the State, the medical and health wing of the ITDA made arrangements to distribute masks to the devotees.

The authorities have set up several health camps in and around Medaram. Officials also made arrangements to distribute the pamphlets alerting the devotees about the precautions to be taken in the wake of swine flu. In view of the heavy rush of devotees to Medaram, the TSRTC is operating special services from Warangal, Karimnagar and Khammam.