Sammakka-Saralamma Jatara

About Sammakka-Saralamma Jatara 

• It is also known as Medaram Jatara.
• It is a tribal festival of honouring the goddesses celebrated in the state of Telangana, India.
• The festival is a demonstration of tribal devotion and people from all walks of life join together to commemorate the revolt led by Sammakka and Saralamma, a mother-daughter duo, against imposing taxes on the tribal populace during a period of drought by the Kakatiya rulers in the 12th century.
• Location: Medaram is a remote place in the Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary, a part of Dandakaranya, the largest surviving forest belt in the Mulugu.
• It is held every two years (biannually). It is celebrated during the time the goddesses of the tribals is believed to visit them.
• Ritual: People offer bangaram/gold (jaggery) of a quantity equal to their weight to the goddesses and take holy bath in Jampanna Vagu, a tributary to River Godavari.
• Significance: It serves as a platform for understanding and fostering harmony between the people and tribal communities, promoting the preservation of their unique traditions, culture, and heritage on a global scale.

Q1) What are the characteristics of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups?

They are mostly homogenous, with a small population, relatively physically isolated, social institutes cast in a simple mold, absence of written language, relatively simple technology, and a slower rate of change etc.

Source: Union Tribal Affairs Minister Shri Arjun Munda visits country’s largest Tribal festival, the Sammakka-Saralamma Jatara at Medaram in Telangana