The Maha Jatara of the forest goddesses Sammakka and Saralamma, held at Medaram in Tadvai Mandal of Mulugu District, Telangana is approaching. This four-day festival has its auspicious timing fixed by the priests as early as six months in advance. Two weeks before the Maha Jatara, priests secretly perform special rituals at the Sammakka temple in Medaram and the Saralamma temple in Kannepalli. These rituals continue for a week.
● How the festivities begin.
Exactly two weeks before the Maha Jatara, on January 14, the Gudimelige festival is observed. The goddesses are worshipped with incense and lamps, and offerings are made. On January 21, the Mandamelige festival is held, during which the priests pray to the goddesses to bestow the strength needed to conduct the Maha Jatara successfully. With these two festivals, the celebrations are considered to have begun. The festivities conclude with the Tiruguvaram festival, held exactly one week after the official start of the Maha Jatara, on February 4. This is exclusively a priests festival. The priests pray to the goddesses to forgive any mistakes that may have occurred during the rituals of the Maha Jatara. All the priests, along with their families, fulfill their vows. The deities are shown to tribal people, village elders, relatives and friends.
● Important dates.
January 14 : Gudimelige festival,
January 21 : Mandamelige festival,
January 27 : Pagididdaraju begins his journey to Medaram from Poonugondla in Gangaram Mandal, Mahabubabad District. On the same day, Jampanna sets out from Kannepalli in Tadvai Mandal and reaches the Gadde (sacred platform) at Medaram.
January 28 : Goddess Saralamma arrives from Kannepalli, Govindarajulu arrive from Kondai in Eturnagaram Mandal. Pagididdarajulu arriving from Mahabubabad District reach the Gadde.
January 29 : Goddess Sammakka sets out from Chilukalagutta and reaches the Gadde.
January 30 : Special prayers by devotees and fulfillment of vows.
January 31 : The goddesses enter the forest.
February 4 : Tiruguvaram festival and conclusion of the Maha Jatara celebrations.