-The Central Government is in the process of declaring Sammakka-Sarakka/Saralamma Jatara a national festival. Recently Central Ministry of Tribal Affairs released Rs. 2 crore as Centre’s contribution towards conducting this Jatara.
-Sammakka-Sarakka/Saralamma Jatara is held in Medaram village of Jayashankar Bhupalpally district, Telangana.
-This Jatra is held bi-annually to honour the twin goddesses Sammakka and her daughter Sarakka.
-The central government had declared Vanaj, a tribal dance and music festival, as national festival in 2015.
-Sammakka-Sarakka Jatara is held by forest dwelling Koya tribe of Telangana and surrounding States.
-According to the state government, Medaram Jatara is the biggest Tribal festival in Asia. About one crore people attend this festival every year.
What will happen when declared national festival: Once Medaram’s Jatara is declared a national festival, it can be considered for ‘intangible cultural heritage of humanity’ tag of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
-Recently, UNESCO had given the intangible cultural heritage tag to Kumbh Mela, which is world’s biggest festival which is attended by an average 10 crore persons.
-It is said that two tribal women leaders fought against the Kakatiya rulers who tried to annex their land and forests. It was Sammakka’s curse which caused gradual decline and death of Kakatiya rule.
