The celebrations of the Third Day of the auspicious and much-awaited festival “Medaram Jathara” commenced from the 16th of February 2022 as the arrival of Saralamma on to the ‘Medaram Gaddhe’ (Platform) was undertaken by the Koya Tribe of Telangana. Telengana is celebrating the festival for four days by the Koya Tribe in collaboraton with The Ministry of Tribal Affairs.
Medaram Jatara is the second-largest fair of India, after the Kumbh Mela, celebrated by the second-largest Tribal Community of Telangana- the Koya tribe. As the largest tribal fair in Asia, Medaram Jathara is conducted in honour of the Goddesses Sammakka and Saralamma. It is celebrated once in two years in the month of ‘Magha’ on the full moon day.
In the early hours of the day, traditional Koya Pujaris (Priests) performed sacred pujas. Sacred pots and Bandaru or Mix of turmeric and saffron powders are brought of the goddess Saralamma from Kannepally and place on her Gadde (platform) in Medaram, amidst their traditional musical and dances with huge processions of the pilgrims.
Several pilgrims of different villages and various Scheduled Tribes assemble there, and crores of pilgrims are visiting the Mulugu District to celebrate the festival.
