Asia’s largest tribal festival, the Sammakka–Saralamma Maha Jatara, popularly known as the Telangana Kumbh Mela, was ceremonially inaugurated at Medaram by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. Ahead of the main jatara scheduled from January 28, the Chief Minister unveiled the pylon following the completion of restoration works on the Sammakka–Saralamma gaddelu undertaken by the state government. He, along with his family, offered the first prayers to the forest deities and presented 68 kg of jaggery, accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, ministers and several MLAs.
Addressing the gathering, Revanth Reddy said he had fulfilled a long-standing vow to the forest deities and described the Medaram development works as a legacy that would endure beyond his lifetime. He remarked that while many leave little behind, he would find satisfaction in having created historic infrastructure benefiting the poor, tribals and non-tribals alike. After the Chief Minister’s initial darshan, priority darshan will be provided to women devotees.
Speaking at a cultural programme, the Chief Minister described the Medaram festival as a symbol of valour transformed into divinity, calling it Telangana’s largest tribal congregation where devotees worship the goddesses without a conventional temple structure. He hailed Sammakka and Saralamma as warrior women who rose against the Kakatiya rulers for the sake of the people and recalled launching the ‘Hath Se Hath Jodo’ yatra from Medaram on February 6, 2023, inspired by their spirit, with the resolve to establish a people’s government.
Revanth Reddy said the government had honoured its promise to develop Medaram into a historic spiritual centre even before completing three years in office, transforming it into a global pilgrimage destination and the Kumbh Mela of southern India. He assured continuous facilities for devotees, announced plans to ensure year-round water flow in Jampanna Vagu through pipelines from Ramappa and Laknavaram lakes, and said arrangements would be made to accommodate crores of devotees annually, guided by the spirit of Sammakka and Saralamma.
The Telangana government has sanctioned ₹251 crore for the Maha Jatara, including ₹150 crore for festival arrangements and ₹101 crore for gaddelu expansion and permanent development works. The four-day jatara will begin on January 28, with devotees expected from across Telangana and neighbouring states. The government has also constituted the Medaram Sammakka–Saralamma Maha Jatara Trust Board, appointing Irpa Sukanya Sunil as chairperson with 15 directors, while dignitaries later participated in a traditional tribal feast organised at Medaram.