Medaram Jatara 2018 Dates or Samakka Sarakka Dates

Medaram Jatara 2018 Dates finalized by the Government of Telangana. The ‘Sammakka
Saralamma’ Jatara, the largest tribal fair of the nation, will be held from January 31, 2018, to February 3, 2018. During a meeting a couple of days ago, a group of tribal priests led by Siddaboina Jagga Rao have finalised the dates for conducting the mini-jatara at Medaram in SS Tadwai mandal in the district. (Check: Samakka Sarakka Story in English)

The fete, which is more familiar as Medaram Jatara, is organised once in two years. It attracts devotees from far-off places in the country, including Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

Conducting mini-jatara has become a practice in recent years as the devotees have been visiting the village to offer prayers every year. The practice of conducting mini-jatara came into vogue since 1996.

According to Jagga Rao, about six lakh devotees would visit during the mini-jatara. Dwajasthambhams (flag poles) will be set up in four directions at the village on February 8 and 'Mandamelige Pandaga' would be organised on the same day. 

This is the second time that the festival is being organised after the formation of State. The jatara accorded the status of State festival. The State government will make elaborate arrangements for the festival.

Finance Minister Etela Rajender About Medaram Jatara:

The State government is prepared to spend any amount to make the Medaram Sammakka-Sarakka Jatara a grand success, Finance Minister Etela Rajender said on Wednesday.

“In 2016, Rs 136 crore was spent for the celebrations and this time, there is no dearth of funds for the popular tribal festival,” he said, adding that the government was making elaborate arrangements every year for the smooth conduct of event.

Rajender said the TS government was also exerting pressure on the Centre to for consider Medaram Jatara as a national festival. “Medaram Jatara boasts of the second largest congregation in the country after Khumb Mela and devotes from different States participate every year,” Rajender said.

Hospitality:

In recent meeting with the district officials, District Collector A Murali has directed them to make arrangements for the convenience of the devotees arriving at the village. He wanted them to ensure proper supply of drinking water, sanitation and electricity at the village.

It has been decided to set up five dumping yards and engage 5,000 sanitation workers for the next jatara to ensure proper sanitation.