A small festival of tribal origin in Telangana has become a major pilgrimage in the past six years. The Medaram Jathara festival takes place every two years in the Medaram village of Tadvai Mandal, in the heart of the thick forests of the Jayashankar Bhupalpally district.
This Jatara has been declared as State Festival in 1998. For every two years, the Jatara will be celebrated 4-days.
The population of the little forest village at Medaram in normal times never exceeds 300. Suddenly, Last year nearly 1 crore pilgrims participated in the Jatara and during this year the expected number of pilgrims is 1.20 crore devotees come from all over Telangana, Andhra and neighboring states like Orissa, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
Medaram Jathara:
Sammakka Saralamma Jatara or Medaram Jatara is a tribal festival honoring the goddesses celebrated in the state of Telangana, India. The Jatra begins at Medaram in Tadvai Mandal in the Mulugu district. It commemorates the fight of a mother and daughter, Sammakka and Saralamma, with the reigning rulers against an unjust law. It is believed that after Kumbha Mela, the Medaram jatara attracts the largest number of devotees in the country. An estimated 10 million people gathered in 2012. It is celebrated in Medaram during the time the goddesses of the tribals is believed to visit them. Medaram is a remote place in the Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary, a part of Dandakaranya, the largest surviving forest belt in the Mulugu. There are many legends about the miraculous powers of Sammakka. According to a tribal story, about 6-7 centuries ago, that is in the 13th century, some tribal leaders who went hunting found a newborn girl (Sammakka) emitting enormous light playing amidst tigers. She was taken to their habitation. The head of the tribe adopted her and brought up as a chieftain (She later became the savior of the tribals of the region) she was married to Pagididda Raju a feudatory tribal chief of Kakatiyas (who ruled the country of Andhra from Warangal City between 1000 AD and 1380 AD). She was blessed with 2 daughters and one son namely Sarakka, Nagulamma and Jampanna respectively.
Ritual
Ritual:
Sammakka Saralamma Jatara is the time for the largest tribal religious congregation in the world, held every two years (biennually), with approximately ten million people converging on the place, over a period of four days, which is 90km from Warangal city. The Sammakka Saralamma Jatra is a State Festival of Govt. of Telangana. Many tribal Devotees from different states of India (M.P, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Maharashtra, Karnataka and parts of Jharkhand)reach to the festive place to celebrate the Jatara. People offer bangaram/gold (jaggery) of a quantity equal to their weight to the goddesses and take holy bath in Jampanna Vagu (stream).
It is a festival with no vedic or brahmanic influence. Until 1998, the only way to reach Medaram was by a bullock cart. In 1998 the state government declared the 1000-yr old festival as official and laid down a motor-able road. In 2008, nearly 8 million people were estimated to have attended the festival. And in recent times the gatherings in the jatara are roughly near 10 million. This fair is said to be the largest repeating congregation of tribal communities in the world. The traffic jam during the festival sometimes goes as far as 60 km on the Warangal highway. In 2012, approximately 1 crore people would attend the world’s largest tribal festival.
Jampanna Vagu:
Jampanna vagu is a tributary to River Godavari. According to history, Jampanna is the tribal warrior and the son of the 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). Tribals 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.
Medaram Jatara Tsrtc Info:
From Hyderabad:
From HYD-MGBS (Bus Point) 259 km
From HYD-(Uppal X Roads) (Bus Point) 230 km
From HYD-Miyapur (Bus Point) 273 km
From HYD-Gachibowli, (Bus Point) 299 km
From HYD-Jeedimetla (Bus Point) 274 km
From Adilabad :
CHENNUR (Bus Point) 225 km
SRIRAMPUR (Bus Point) 190 km
From Bhupalpally :
MALLAMPALLY (Bus Point) 75 km
MULUG (Bus Point) 60 km
JANGALAPALLY (Bus Point) 55 km
VENKATAPUR (Bus Point) 62 km
GOVINDARAOPET (Bus Point) 35 km
PASRA (Bus Point) 30 km
GHANPUR(MULUG) (Bus Point) 80 km
BHUPALPALLY (Bus Point) 100 km
THADVAI (Bus Point) 16 km
ETURNAGARAM (Bus Point) 30 km
MANGAPET (Bus Point) 45 km
KALESHWARAM (Bus Point) 155 km
KATARAM (Bus Point) 120 km
VAZEDU (Bus Point) 51 km
From Khammam :
PERURU (Bus Point) 71 km
KHAMMAM (Bus Point) 243 km
From Karimnagar :
HUZURABAD (Bus Point) 145 km
8-INCLINE (Bus Point) 175 km
From Kothagudem :
YELLANDU (Bus Point) 195 km
KOTHAGUDEM (Bus Point) 165 km
BHADRACHALAM (Bus Point) 145 km
PALWANCHA (Bus Point) 152 km
MANGURU (Bus Point) 100 km
From Mancheriala :
BELLAMPALLY (Bus Point) 225 km
MANDAMARRI (Bus Point) 215 km
From Nizamabad :
NIZAMABAD (Bus Point) 335 km
From Warangal :
HANAMKONDA (Bus Point) 105 km
KAZIPET (Bus Point) 110 km
WARANGAL (Bus Point) 105 km
JANAGAON (Bus Point) 165 km
GHANPUR-STN (Bus Point) 140 km
NARSAMPET (Bus Point) 107 km
KOTHAGUDA (Bus Point) 137 km
PARKAL (Bus Point) 107 km
CHITYAL (Bus Point) 115 km
MAHABUBABAD (Bus Point) 155 km
THORRUR (Bus Point) 165 km
WARADANNAPET (Bus Point) 133 km
ATMAKUR (Bus Point) 90 km
From Maharastra :
SIRONCHA (MAHARASTRA) 175 km
Medaram Jatara Facilities:
Traffic Regulation:
- Heavy vehicles movement will be put-off the roads from 1st week of January to avoid traffic congestion
- Alternative route at Gattamma Temple (Mulug) for free movement of the vehicles who traditionally stop-over there for a while on the way to Medaram
- Pasra-Narlapur road being made a One-way
- Separate routes are made for RTC Buses (Pasra-Thadvai-Medaram) & for Private vehicles (Pasra- Narlapur)
- Parking of the vehicles – More than 27 parking places are identified in nearly 1000 Acres
- More than 12-Holding areas covering 270 Acres identified to have enough buffer space in the event of re-routing or holding the vehicles on the route
- Police Personnel arranged at Check-Posts and Police Out-post to guide the traffic
- More than 12-Holding areas covering 270 Acres identified to have enough buffer space in the event of re-routing or holding the vehicles on the route
- Police Personnel arranged at Check-Posts and Police Out-post to guide the traffic
- Cranes and towing vehicles stationed at Strategic locations to clear any traffic obstructions
- Patrolling by the Bike-borne Police to de-clog any traffic congestion’s
Medical & Health :
| s.no | Name of Activity | numbers | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medical Camp & Man Power | 760 | Program Officer , Duty Medical Officer, Para Medical staff , Class IV staff on duty | 13,53 |
| 2 | Medical Camps Arrangement | 33 | Main Camp TTD Mini Camp Enroute Camp | 23,80 |
| 3 | Drugs & surgical, Transport, Labour charges, IEC | 1 | Purchase of drugs & Instrument. | 81,00 |
| 4 | Miscellaneous & food expenditure | 1 | Purchasing of Bucket, mugs, Mat, Anti malarial spray | 15,57 |
| Total | 133,91 |
Parking Places :
10P10 Kalvapally X Road – I
| S No | Name of the Place |
|---|---|
| 1 | P1 Basugudem |
| 2 | P2 Oorattam – I |
| 3 | P3 Oorattam – II |
| 4 | P4 Oorattam – III |
| 5 | P5 Kannepally |
| 6 | P6 Jampangavai |
| 7 | P7 Marasoora RF |
| 8 | P8 Pochamma Bandhan |
| 9 | P9 Kalvapally Check Post |
| 11 | P11 Kalvapally X Road – II |
| 12 | P12 Bayyakkapet |
| 13 | P13 Chinthal X Road – I |
| 14 | P14 Chinthal X Road – II |
| 15 | P15 Arumalla Gutta |
| 16 | P16 Erra Cheruvu – I |
| 17 | P17 Erra Cheruvu – II |
| 18 | P18 Vengalapur |
| 19 | P19 Ballani Chinthal |
| 20 | P20 Thurkani Chinthal |
| 21 | P21 Kothur _ I |
| 22 | P22 Kothur – II |
| 23 | P23 VIP |
| 24 | P24 VVIP |
| 25 | P25 Mettugutta |
| 26 | P26 Kamaram |
| 27 | P27 chinnaboinapally |
List Of Sectors:
For Purpose of Administration during Jalhara.
The whole area is divided into 38 Sectors
These 38-Sectors .11 be a man. by Sectoral Officers and their Staff 2487 for a period of 7-days.
1) Control Room
2) ITDA Camp Office. Medaram
3) Temple Entry Guest House side
4) Temple Entry Chilakala Gotta Side
5) Temple Entry Police Camp Side
6) Devathala Gadde
7) Temple Exit 1 & 11
8) RTC Alighting Point
9) RTC Bus stand. Bus Stad Road infront of School
10) Jampannavagu to Narlapur Side
11) Jampannamgu Alighting Point Road
12) Kannepally Village & Surroundings
13) Oorattam Village & Surroundings
14) Cottages
15) English Medium School
16) Missing Persons Camp I
17) VV1P & VIP Parking
18) Forest Guest House Pasra
19) Project Nagar to Chintal X Road
24) Gatamma Temp. Mulugu
25) Narlapur Baymkkapet
26) Sector at ITDA camp for Emerge
27) Jangalapally
28) Ashram School, Tadmi
29) Ashram School – Project Nagar
30) Reddy Gudem & Surrounding
31) Medical Center Madaram
32) Emerge, – A) RIX) Mulugu B) PO- Eturunagram
33) NIobile Team AI Pa.sra B) Lavala – Thadvi
20) Narlapur Kottur Village
21) Kottur Jampannamgu Bridge
22) Chintal Jn.. Shuttle Bus Stand
23) RTC Ticketing Point. Thadmi
34) RTC Control Room
35) Madaram Tank
36) Laknavaram Tank
37) Rarnappa
38) Sivaram, Sagar & Surrounding
Bathing Ghats:
- 800 Mtrs., New Bathing Ghats in three separate places on Jampanna Vagu
- Repairs to Old Bathing Ghats – 2681 Mtrs
- Construction of (2) new Infiltration Wells & desilting of the existing wells
- Ladies Dress Changing Compartments – All works will be completed by 15.01.2018
- Deploying 100-Swimmers at 4-places @ 25 each (Bathing Ghats) on Jampanna Vagu with 30-Boats
- Deploying 50-Swimmers at 2-Irrigation Tank Places @ 25 each and also additional swimmers at unsafe Bathing area
How to Reach Medaram Jatara:
Medaram is Located 266.3 kms from the city of Hyderabad and it is well connected by road and rail from some of the major cities of Telangana such as Warangal, Bhupalapally, Karimnagar etc. Medaram village is located at a distance of 14 kms northwest of the Tadvai village, which is situated via NH163.
By Rail
Trains from Hyderabad to Medaram.You can come to kazipet or Warangal. You are having the trains from Hyderabad to Warangal (example) Train no:17406 Krishna express train timings are 8:45 PM.
By Bus
Passengers On the Occasion of Medaram Jathara dear Passengers from Hyderabad Mahatma Gandhi bus stand(MGBS) to Medaram you are haveing buses directly from Uppal to Medaram you are having many buses to reach Medaram it takes a distance of 240 kms it takes maximum time to reach Medaram 6 hours
By Road
Numerous private and state-owned buses are available to Warangal and from Warangal many local buses, taxi, autos are available. During Jatra, straight buses are specially arranged for devotees and tourists by the Telangana Government
Medaram Near By Attractions:
Tadvai Forest Huts and Cycling
Damarvai Dolmens
Bogatha Waterfall
Kaleshwara Mukteshwara Swamy Aalayam
Malluru
Pandavula Guttalu
Laknavaram Lake
Ghanpur Kota Gullu
Ramappa Temple
Medaram Jathara Contacts Numbers:
mail: collector-jsk@telangana.gov.in, subcollector.rdo@gmail.com, districteerwssjayashankar@gmail.com
Help Line Number: 08715-223257, 108717-281247, 08717-281247.