“Throughout my childhood, the Sammakka Saralamma Jathara was the most awaited festival in our hometown, Mulugu. Even though it happens only once every two years, the preparations would start weeks in advance.
It’s a tradition that has been part of Telangana’s culture for centuries. Mostly all the families gather together, walking long distances through forest paths, carrying jaggery, rice, and coconuts as offerings to Sammakka and Saralamma at Medaram. Some of us take a vow and offer jaggery equal to our body weight, praying for health, strength, or peace at home. The jaggery is wrapped in cloth and carried on the head.
The story of Medaram belongs to the forests and the people. According to Koya tribal traditions, Sammakka and Saralamma stood against injustice when forest communities were forced to pay heavy taxes. These communities depended on the forest for survival, and Sammakka chose to resist, along with her family and community. The courage and devotion of those times live on through stories passed down over generations.
This year, 2026, the main temple premises have been redeveloped with better facilities—safe resting areas, drinking water, washrooms, tents for stay, and free express buses for women coming from far.
Even though many of us now live in cities, we try to attend whenever we can. The once-in-two-years pilgrimage is a reminder of faith, family, and the courage of women. Every visit feels like something passed down from generations before us.”
- Sirisha