Medaram Jatara

Sammakka Sarakka Jatara or Medaram Jathara is a tribal festival of Goddessess celebrated in Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh, India. It commemorates the valiant fight put up by a mother and daughter, Samakka and Sarakka, with the reigning rulers over an unjust law.

It is celebrated in Medaram when the beloved goddesses of the tribals visit them. Medaram is a remote place in the Eturunagaram wildlife Sanctuary, a part of Dandakaranya, the largest surviving forest belt in the Deccan. It is the second largest religious congregation after the Maha Kumbh Mela. The forest is transformed into a cosmopolis

THE HISTORY
Seven centuries ago, the tribals went in to deep forest for hunting. They have seen a child secured by cruel tigers and lions, with glorious presence, at the glorious light. The tribal’s elders (Koya doralu) lifted the child in manger to the village. Since the presence of the child, in the village there has been lot of prosperity and happiness in the village. The tribal elders felt that, their god Kondadevara (Kondadevara is a tribal god) has arrived to them as the child. In very ritual movement they named her as "Sammakka". Sammakka rowed on tigers and lions. She also is granting the wishes to child bearing couples. She cured so many persons suffering form chronic decease. Granting wishes held her popularity spread through out. The region as Sammakka reached her juvenile stage. She was married to Pagididda Raju, the ruler of Medaram village. The couple was very happy and people praised them as token of their relation. They were blessed with son and two daughters named Jampanna, Saralamma and Nagulamma.

During this period Prathaparudra belonging Kakatiya dynasty was ruling capital city as "Orugallu" now it is known as Warangal. Pagididda Raju was being a subordinate king of Kakatiya dynasty and ruling the Medaram village in his province. There occurred a caviar famine for four years. In the same period, people became shuttered, because take of famine. The people were not a situation to pay their taxes. So Pagididda Raju refused to pay tax to the Kakatiya emperor. It was not agreeable to the king and decided to wage war under the lieutenant Yugandarudu.

The tribal warriors having self-respect decided to prepare to war. The tribal warriors were not afraid of enemy forces having equines and elephantine forces. They attacked the Kakatiyans by shouting war crises. Thousands of heads were chopped like coconuts. The blood flew like river, and mixed with Sampenga Vagu the passageway. The water was adulterated with blood. In this battle, there was no difference like tribal or non-tribal among the people participated in war. The skilled tribal warriors were killed by Kakatiya strength. In this scared battle, Sammakka’s husband Pagididda Raju, Son in Law Govindaraju laid their victorious lives. Jampanna having self-respect ashamed and sacrificed him self, by jumping in to "Sampenga Vagu" Hence it is called as Jampanna Vagu.

By hearing shocking news of her loved once (Husband, Son in Law, many tribal warriors), Sammakka didn’t gave up her courage. Having breast plate (Daalu) and sword she attacked the enemy forces. Showing her divine powers she shattered and terrorized. The Kakatiyans are almost confidante of victory. But they surprised by the divine combat of Sammakka. As Sammakka was at the peak of guts, suddenly a kakatiyans soldier came behind and back stroked Sammakka. Sammakka was turned behind raises her sword and kill the back stroker. Then the Sammakka tied the wound with cloth and fled away on a horse from battlefield thinking of "If her blood drops on the land, the land will become barren and gives no fruit ". She fled away towards east of the Medaram village and disappeared.

After the battle, the tribals searched for Sammakka in forest. They found a Kumkum Barinay (Hindus kept their thilak in a small box) at a snake hole in the shade of a Naga vruksham (Tree called Naga vruksham). Tribals felt that their goddess Sammakka has found as Kumkum Barinay. Once in two years on the day of "Magha shuddha Purnima" the tribal women celebrate a festival, where they got the Kumkum Barinay. As this festival become very popular and many tribal are coming to the place. That is why the tribal elders cut off the Naga vruksham and make it has symbol of Sammakka, build it in a platform. (Gadde) They also build another Platform (Gadde) for Sammakka’s daughter Saralamma. They worship "Deyyala Madugu thinking as Jampanna". Some pilgrims see a snake in the hole of Ippa chettu (Ippa Tree), which is besides the Sammakka’s platform and believe that it was Sammakka’s husband Pagididda Raju.

People believe that Goddesses Sammakka, Saralamma fulfill their desires with their divine and miraculous powers. Issueless Couples visit to pray the goddess to bless them with children.

Many a pilgrim pay their promises made to goddess during the Jathara, by offering Jaggery, calf, coconuts and donations in cash etc. Pilgrims bath in the Jampanna stream to get purified and absolve from sins

The Ritual

Samakka Sarakka Jatara is the time for the largest tribal congregation in the world held every two years (biennually), approximately 6 million people converge over three days around the small village of Medaram and its adjacent stream/rivulet, Jampanna Vagu, 90 km from Warangal city.[2]

THE SPIRIT

People are weighed in bangaram (jaggery) which is offered to the Godesses. Countless bullock carts congregate at the festival.

It is spread over five states and numerous tribes inhabit it. Things have not changed much there since the Kakatiya times about 1000 years ago. The lack of involvement of the government has, however, helped the festival retain its own spirit. It is a festival with no vedic or brahmanic influence. Goats and hens are sacrificed in thousands and there is a lot of liquor going around. The rituals performed during the festival unfurl the tribal spirit in its purest form. The very fact of the survival and thriving of this ancient tribal festival, in the face of several adversities, is a testimony of the indomitable resolve, honesty, uprightness and courage of the Girijans.

Until 1998, the only way to reach Medaram was by a bullock cart. Apart from the four days of the biennial festival, there is not a soul moving there. It was a desolate place with no road or transportation. It was only in 1998 that the government of AP declared the 1000 year old festival as official and laid down a transportable road.

In 2008, 8 million people were estimated to have attended the festival. This fair is said to be the largest repeating aggregation of tribal communities in the world. The traffic jam during the festival sometimes goes as far as 60km on the Warangal highway.