Medaram Maha Jatara begins with Saralamma’s arrival close to midnight

With a large number of devotees, including children and the elderly, eagerly awaiting, the tribal deity Saralamma arrived at the Medaram tribal shrine close to midnight on Wednesday (January 28, 2026) and was installed on the newly developed platform, marking the commencement of the four-day biennial Sammakka–Saralamma Maha Jatara, billed as Asia’s largest tribal congregation.

Significantly, this is the first biennial Jatara to commence after the renovation of the shrine.

Minister for Revenue and Housing Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, along with his family members, visited the temple and offered special prayers ahead of Saralamma’s arrival.

Saralamma set out from Kannepally village — about 5 km away from the Medaram shrine — around 7:30 p.m. after the Vaddes (Koya priests) performed a special puja. Placed under the protective shade of Lord Hanuman, the Vadde crossed the Jampannavagu rivulet and reached her platform at the shrine close to midnight. Minister for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Danasari Anasuya Seethakka, District Collector T.S. Divakara, and Superintendent of Police (SP) Sudhir R. Kekan were present during the puja at the Saralamma temple and accompanied the procession. Although the Gadde was closed from around 7 p.m. and remained shut until 9 p.m., the gates were forced open for devotees due to a “stampede-like situation” that lasted for an hour. This action reportedly did not sit well with some devotees.

Earlier in the day, Pagididdaraju and Govindaraju were already installed on their respective gaddelu (sacred platforms). While Govindaraju was brought from Kondai, Pagididdaraju arrived from Ponugonda village in the Mahabubabad district. The tiny village of Medaram, located in the S.S. Tadvai mandal within the Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary in the Mulugu district, wore a festive look, as devotees — including women, children, and the elderly — converged on the sacred site to witness the inaugural rituals and seek the blessings of the tribal deities.

As part of the first-day observances, the purification of the sacred platforms was performed on Wednesday (January 28, 2026) morning. Tribal priests purified the altars using clay, in accordance with customary practices. Special pujas were later held, with offerings of turmeric, saffron and sarees, in line with traditions followed by the tribal clans.

Medaram tribal chief priest Siddaboina Arun Kumar said that all arrangements had been completed by the government and the temple committee to facilitate a smooth darshan for devotees. “We pray that all devotees are blessed with the grace of the Goddess,” he stated.

The festival is set to reach its peak on Thursday (January 29, 2026) night, when Mother Sammakka is scheduled to arrive from Chilakalagutta in the form of a vermilion casket.