Medaram Jatara: Grand entry of Sammakka, Saralamma from Kannepalli on February 21

MEDARAM: The entry of Saralamma, one of the main deities of the Medaram Jatara at the ‘Gadde’ a pedestal-like structure in Medaram will mark the beginning of the biannual four-day Sammakka Sarakka Jatara considered the world’s largest tribal religious congregation on Wednesday.

The Joint District Collector or equivalent official would have to convince the tribal priests to bring both Saralamma and Sammakka to the pedestal from Chilakalagutta at Kannepalli which is around 8 km from Medaram. Lakhs observe the event with devotion while the tribal percussion instruments and trumpets resonate in the air of the tribal hamlet. Tribal dancers from Chhattisgarh dressed up in traditional attire add to the colour of the main event on Wednesday. Police officials and Medaram Trust Board members to attend the crucial ritual.

Devotees who arrive at Medaram to convey their wishes to the goddess prostate on the roads a ritual called ‘Varalau Pattatam”. While the tribal goddess arrives at the pedestal in a procession from Medaram, hundreds of young women decorate the main pedestal to welcome the goddesses. First, the tribal priests and then the District Joint Collector offer prayers to the goddesses. After the symbolic sacrifice, the tribal priests would arrive at the temple along with a white flag with lord Hanuman drawn on it. Then the priests will walk over the devotees and return to Kannepalli. Villagers in Kannepalli would then offer prayers at their households by breaking coconuts.

After this event, Govindarajulu from Kondai and Pagididda Raju from Poonugundla would also reach the ‘Gadde’ ending the rituals on the first day. However, devotees make a point to first offer prayers at Gattamma Talli temple at the entrance of Mulugu town. Even the district officials first pray at this temple before leaving for the Medaram Jatara.

Meanwhile, the State Government had made elaborate arrangements for the success of the biannual event. While railways announced special trains the TSRTC was running 6,000 special buses to and from Jatara to carry 30 lakh passengers. These buses will be operated from 51 points across the State till February 24. TSRTC also declared that the ongoing free bus service for women will apply for special buses to Jatara.

The Government also launched an online jaggery offering scheme this year for those who could not physically reach Medaram to offer the traditional ‘Bangaram’.