Sammakka Saralamma Jatara 2026 Timings and Dates

Published by Orugallu Andhalu

The Medaram Sammakka Saralamma Vanadevatalu Maha Jatara, one of the world’s largest tribal gatherings and the biggest cultural festival of Telangana, will be celebrated from January 28 to January 31, 2026.

The festival dates were finalized in the traditional manner by the Koya priests, who are the hereditary guardians of this sacred Vana Devata worship. The Medaram Jatara attracts crores of devotees every two years and is widely known as the “Telangana Kumbh Mela.”

Medaram Jatara 2026 Dates & Daily Schedule

 January 28, 2026 (Wednesday)

The Maha Jatara begins with the arrival of:

• Sarakka (Saralamma)

• Govindaraju (her son-in-law)

• Pagididda Raju (her husband)

They reach the Gaddelu (sacred platforms) of Medaram around 6:00 PM, marking the official start of the festival.

 

January 29, 2026 (Thursday)

This is the most auspicious day.

Around 6:00 PM, Sammakka, the forest goddess of Chilakalagutta, arrives at the Gadde amidst:

• Gun salutes

• Tribal rituals

• Torch processions

• Traditional drums and torches

This moment is the spiritual peak of the entire festival.

 January 30, 2026 (Friday)

This is the main day of devotee offerings.

Lakhs of pilgrims offer:

• Bangaram (jaggery) equal to their body weight (Nilvettu Bangaram)

• Coconuts

• Turmeric & Kumkum

• Cash offerings

• Rice grains mixed with turmeric powder brought by women devotees tied to thier lap by a new cloth known as Odibiyyam.

Devotees first bathe in the Jampanna Vaagu, considered a sin-cleansing stream named after warrior Jampanna, before reaching the Gaddelu.

 January 31, 2026 (Saturday)

On the final day, all deities —

Sammakka, Sarakka, Govindaraju and Pagididda Raju

— return to their original places in a ritual called Vanapravesham (return to the forest).

With this, the Medaram Maha Jatara concludes.

 Rituals & Tribal Traditions of the Medaram Jatara

The Medaram Jatara is unique because every ritual is conducted by Koya priests, following traditions passed down for centuries.

 Arrival of Pagididda Raju

• Pagididda Raju is prepared a day before the festival at Poonugondla village, Gangaram Mandal (Mahabubabad district).

• He is dressed in new clothes, receives sacrificial pujas, and is ceremonially brought to Medaram.

• His arrival is first announced to the Sammakka priests.

 Arrival of Saralamma (Sarakka)

• Rituals begin in Kannepalli village, 2–3 hours of early morning puja.

• Saralamma is brought to Medaram in a grand tribal procession.

• On the same day, Govindaraju arrives from Kondai village (Eturunagaram Mandal).

• Saralamma, Pagididda Raju and Govindaraju all reach the Gaddelu on the same evening.

Arrival of Sammakka – The Most Sacred Event

• Sammakka resides in Chilakalagutta, northeast of Medaram.

• She is represented in the form of a saffron-colored woman beneath a flax tree.

• The Koya priests bring her down in a torchlit procession.

• The police honor her arrival with a gun salute.

• She is placed on the Gadde for darshan on the second evening.

This moment symbolizes the unity of the tribal families and the divine strength of Sammakka, who is believed to have fought against unjust rulers centuries ago.

 Beliefs & Devotional Customs

 Nilvettu Bangaram

Devotees offer jaggery equal to their body weight after their wishes come true.

 Animal offerings

In remote tribal communities, rooster offerings (flying chickens) symbolize calming the deity as Sammakka arrives.

Prayers for protection

Devotees pray for:

• Health

• Children

• Prosperity

• Family well-being

• Protection from misfortune

These customs have been followed for generations among tribal communities.

Government Arrangements & Facilities

Since crores of devotees participate, the Telangana government prepares massive arrangements:

• Special sanitation teams

• Drinking water points

• Temporary accommodation

• Health camps

• Large-scale traffic management

• Extended RTC bus services from Hyderabad, Warangal & major cities

• Safety teams at Jampanna Vaagu

• Temporary bridges, barricades & queue systems

Every two years, government officials hold review meetings to design a master plan for crowd and safety management.

 Recognition of the Jatara

In 2014, the Government of Telangana officially declared the Medaram Sammakka Sarakka Jatara as a State Festival.

Today, it stands as the largest tribal festival in the world, attracting visitors from:

• Telangana

• Andhra Pradesh

• Chhattisgarh

• Maharashtra

• Odisha

• Karnataka

Why Medaram Jatara Is Special

The festival is not temple-centric.

It is a forest festival, rooted deeply in:

• Tribal identity

• Worship of nature

• Courage and sacrifice of Sammakka & Saralamma

It represents the soul of Telangana’s tribal culture.

Conclusion

The Sammakka Saralamma Jatara 2026 is not just a festival — it is a living heritage of tribal bravery, emotion, and devotion. Attending the Medaram Jatara is a powerful spiritual experience, where millions come together in a sacred forest to honor their beloved goddesses.

Disclaimer:
Information in this article is based on local history, folklore, temple records, and publicly available sources. Details such as timings may vary; visitors are advised to verify with temple authorities during special occasions.

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