MULUGU : Medaram is ready. As the forest village prepares to receive more than 1.5 crore devotees, the stage — spiritual and logistical — is set for the Sammakka–Saralamma Jatara, with sacred platforms decked up with mango leaves and flowers, awaiting the arrival of the tribal deities.
Pilgrims have begun streaming into the tiny hamlet ahead of one of Asia’s largest tribal congregations. The rituals commence on Wednesday with the early-morning arrival of Govindarajulu, Pagididdaraju and Nagulamma, followed by Saralamma’s arrival on her platform in the evening.
Ahead of Saralamma’s arrival, Pagididdaraju — the husband of Sammakka and father of Saralamma — was brought from Punugandla village in Gangaram mandal of Mahbubabad district and placed on the platform. Govindarajulu, Saralamma’s husband, was brought from Kondai village in Eturnagaram mandal for devotees’ rituals. Nagulamma, the sister of Sammakka, will be brought to the platform near the Jampanna Vagu stream.
Devotees from Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Odisha have camped across the forests surrounding Medaram, carrying offerings of jaggery, sarees and vodibiyyam. Nearly 25 km of forest land is dotted with makeshift tents and huts as pilgrims wait for the deities’ arrival at the gaddelu.
On Tuesday evening, the district administration completed decorations at the platforms, adorning them with flowers and mango leaves and clearing accumulated jaggery in preparation for the rituals.
The biannual jatara will be held from Wednesday to Saturday. Saralamma arrives from Kannepally on Wednesday evening, while Sammakka reaches Medaram from Chilukalagutta on Thursday.
On Friday, both deities will remain on the platforms before returning to the forest on Saturday in the traditional Vanapravesham, marking the conclusion of the jatara. Authorities expect around 1.5 crore devotees this year. The TGSRTC has pressed 4,000 buses into service for the event, while police have deployed 14,000 personnel. NDRF and SDRF teams have been stationed near the altars and at Jampanna Vagu.
Panchayat Raj Minister Danasari Anasuya (Seethakka) told TNIE that all precautionary measures had been taken to ensure a smooth darshan for pilgrims. She appealed to devotees to participate peacefully, remain alert to miscreants and return safely after seeking the blessings of the tribal deities.