Medaram Sammakka Saralamma Jatara, Medaram: History, highlights and visitor guide

History and context

The story behind Medaram Sammakka Saralamma Jatara

The legend behind the jatara dates it to about the 12th or 13th century, to a conflict between a Koya family and a Kakatiya king. Tribal priests now fetch Sammakka's casket from Chilakalagutta every two years, while Saralamma is brought from Kannepalli, about four km away.

The event has grown from a few thousand people until about 1955 to an enormous, government-managed festival. For the 2026 edition, news reports cited spending of Rs 251 crore on permanent infrastructure at Medaram.

Useful facts

Medaram Sammakka Saralamma Jatara facts at a glance

Location

Medaram, Mulugu district, Telangana

Experience type

Biennial four-day tribal festival

Known for

Jaggery (bangaram) offerings and a holy dip at Jampanna Vagu

When

Every two years around Magha Purnima, January or February

Last held

28 to 31 January 2026

Run by

Koya priests with state arrangements

Why it matters

Why Medaram Sammakka Saralamma Jatara is worth your time

The Medaram jatara is one of the world's largest gatherings, with estimates in the tens of millions for recent editions. Sources differ on exact figures, and a few thousand visitors in the 1950s grew to many millions today, which says something about how a regional tribal observance became a mass pilgrimage.

It is also unusual because the Koya priests lead it according to tribal custom, with no stone temple at the centre, and the rituals are tied to forest places: Chilakalagutta, Kannepalli and the Jampanna Vagu stream. Seeing it, or understanding why people come, is a lesson in how Adivasi memory of resistance can become a state-wide faith.

Highlights

What not to miss

1. 01

   The goddesses' arrival

   On the first two days the deities are brought from Kannepalli and Chilakalagutta to the Medaram platform with Koya priests leading.

2. 02

   Peak day offerings

   On the third day devotees offer jaggery equal to their weight and make the holy bath at Jampanna Vagu.

3. 03

   The return to the forest

   On the fourth evening the goddesses are taken back to the forest until the next jatara.

Plan your visit

How to experience it

The jatara unfolds over four days. In the 2026 edition, the first day saw Saralamma, with Pagididda Raju and Govindaraju, brought to the platform at Medaram; on the second day Sammakka was brought from Chilakalagutta, her vermilion casket carried by priests; the third day was the peak, when devotees offered jaggery and bathed in Jampanna Vagu; and the goddesses were taken back to the forest on the fourth evening.

Plan carefully. Reports for 2026 described parking in dozens of zones, thousands of buses, health camps and a large police presence, but the sheer numbers still mean long walks and slow movement. Reach Warangal first, travel in on an early start, wear sturdy shoes and carry only a small bag. Keep a family meeting point, because phones may be overloaded.

If the crowd is too much, consider visiting on the first or second day, or return to the shrine on an ordinary day. Many families do this, and still feel they have understood the festival.

Know before you go

Timing, access and comfort

Area

Medaram, Tadvai mandal, Mulugu district; held every two years in January or February

Time needed

A full day at least, plus travel time and queues

Best time

The four days around Magha Purnima, every two years; the next is expected in early 2028 (confirm the dates)

Walking level

Demanding

Senior comfort

Very tiring: huge crowds, long walks from parking areas, queues in heat or cold, and limited seating. Authorities provide health camps and extra buses, but older or frail travellers should think hard before attending peak days.

Tickets and access

Entry is free; the government runs parking zones, buses and medical camps. A helicopter service from Hanamkonda was reported for the 2026 edition at a published fee, but arrangements change each time, so check closer to the date.

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