Mulugu: Asia’s biggest biennial four days tribal festival Sammakka-Sarakka Jatara started on February 21 at Medaram in Mulugu District in Telangana.

Devotees in large numbers have started arriving in Medaram village ahead of the Sammakka-Sarakka Jatara. With the arrival of Govindarajulu, Pagididdaraju, Nagulamma in the early hours and the deity of Saralamma arriving on Wednesday evening. The historic tribal fair is conducted in Medaram village by the committee of tribal priests.

Devotees from Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka states have set up camps at Medaram to present their offerings (jaggery, saree, and vodibiyyam) to the tribal deities from Wednesday to Saturday. A 25 sq.km of forest area is now covered with tents and huts, as devotees are waiting for the deities arrival at the platforms (Gaddelu).

Saralamma deity will arrive at the platform (Gadde) on Wednesday evening from Kannepally village, and on February 22 Sammakka will arrive from Chilukalagutta. On Friday the two deities will grace the Gaddelu (platforms), and on Saturday, the tribal deities will return to the forest (known as Vanapravesham). After this, the jatara will conclude.

Before Saralamma’s arrival, Pagididdaraju (husband of Sammakka deity) and father of Saralamma, was brought from Punugandla village of Gangaram mandal in Mahabubabad district and kept on the platform. Govindarajulu, husband of Saralamma deity, was brought from Kondai village of Eturnagaram mandal to Medaram for the devotees’ rituals. Nagulamma, the sister of Sammakka deity, will also be brought to the platform at the Jampanna vagu.

The district administration made elaborate arrangements for the pilgrims. Following the collector’s orders, water has been released into the Jampanna Vagu from Laknavaram Lake for the traditional holy dip. Despite low water levels in the lake, three feet of water has been released into the Jampanna Vagu for the devotees’ bath. Drinking water provisions have been arranged in queue lines.

Mulugu district police have deployed 14K personnel, along with 4K sanitation staff and 1,200 scavengers who are kept on duty through the PR ministry. Additionally, 700 acres of land have been allocated for parking and the RTC bus stand. TSRTC will be operating 6,000 buses for the jatara.