When tradition meets leadership: A new dawn for Medaram
Deep in the lush forests of Telangana, where folklore breathes through the trees and devotion echoes through the valleys, lies Medaram. Every two years, this quiet stretch of land transforms into the hub of Asia’s largest tribal congregation – the Sammakka-Saralamma Jatara. The Jatara is not just a festival but a saga, a living memory of resistance, sacrifice, and faith that binds Telangana’s people together.
And this year, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is making sure the Jatara shines brighter than ever before.
A timeless legacy, reborn every two years
The Medaram Jatara is unlike anything else in the world. It commemorates the 13th-century tribal leaders Sammakka and her daughter Saralamma, who fearlessly resisted oppressive taxation by the Kakatiya rulers. Their fight, their sacrifice, elevated them to divine protectors in the hearts of the people. Over the centuries, their legend has only grown, transcending generations and borders.
Each Jatara draws crores of devotees – tribals, villagers, city dwellers, NRIs – all walking into the forests with a singular purpose: faith. Here, rituals aren’t grand or lavish spectacles of gold or gemstones. Instead, they’re offerings of jaggery, chants of devotion, and prayers whispered into the winds. Every step towards Medaram is an act of belonging, an affirmation of Telangana’s collective identity.

Why Revanth is leaving no stone unturned

Telangana’s pride, culture, and self-respect. Which is why the Chief Minister has taken it upon himself to personally monitor preparations this time around.
- Review meetings? Done.
- Consultations with tribal priests? Happening.
- On-ground inspections? Already planned.
So, yes, this isn’t lip service. The Chief Minister is driving home a clear message – Medaram Jatara deserves nothing less than world-class arrangements.
The big push: Rs. 236 crore for Medaram
For the first time in history, a record Rs. 236 crore has been sanctioned for the Jatara. Beyond being an allocation, this sanction has become all about boosting facilities for a venue whose sanctity is of utmost importance to people of Telangana, lakhs of whom congregate at Medaram every alternate year.
The funds are earmarked for:
- Widening and improving transport routes so lakhs of vehicles can move smoothly.
- Permanent upgrades to roads and amenities.
- Revamping the sacred Jampanna Vagu, where countless devotees take a holy dip.
- Introducing solar villages, a step towards sustainable celebration.
- Large-scale sanitation drives to keep the site clean and hygienic.

Think about it: In a State where festivals often come and go, leaving temporary setups behind, this investment equals permanence. Revanth’s government isn’t just preparing for this Jatara – it’s building for the next ten, and the next hundred.
A festival of faith, a showcase for Telangana
It’s easy to view Medaram as just another religious gathering. But look closer, and you’ll see why Revanth is betting big.
This is the festival that routinely breaks Guinness records for attendance. It is the heartbeat of Adivasi identity, the pride of Telangana, and a spiritual magnet that draws visitors from across India and the world. Every foreign tourist who witnesses this ocean of humanity goes back with a piece of Telangana’s story.
Handled right, Medaram can be more than a ritual – it can surely be a showcase of Telangana’s heritage to the world.
The political and cultural message
There’s also a shrewd political calculation here. By aligning closely with Medaram, Revanth Reddy proves that he’s not only an administrator, but also a custodian of Telangana’s culture. Involving tribal priests, listening to community leaders, and prioritising infrastructure all send the same signal: “This government respects tradition and sees culture as integral to progress.”

And, honestly, festivals like Medaram aren’t just about faith. They are about identity, unity, and cultural pride. When crores of people return home after a seamless, grand Jatara, they remember the efforts of the government that made it possible.

Come February, when the chants rise and the jaggery offerings pile high, Telangana will witness not only devotion but also the impact of meticulous planning, careful implementation and people-centric governance that the current Congress government stands for. If all goes as planned, the 2026 Medaram Jatara will be remembered as the year when Telangana, under Revanth Reddy, elevated a tribal tradition into a global spectacle of pride and heritage.
In the end, Medaram is more than faith. It is Telangana’s eternal flame. And with Revanth Reddy at the helm, it looks set to burn brighter than ever.