The four days Medaram Sammakka Sarakka Jatara, earned a huge income of Rs. 11,45,34,707, from offerings by devotees. According to sources, the offerings this year (2022) were contrary to the expectations of the officials and priests of the Sammakka Sarakka tribal shrine.
The announcement of the huge offerings was made on the late night of the 7th of March, Monday, after the counting of votes. Although the income was Rs. 20 lakh less than the previous year’s event, held in 2020. Besides offerings in cash, the Jatara earned 631 gram of gold and 48.35 kg of silver and coins worth Rs. 37 lakhs by the devotees. In addition, a group of 816 devotees have submitted Rs 3.04 lakh to the Goddesses Sammmakka-Sarakka through the e-hundi made available during the event.
An official, who wished to be anonymous said, “We expected that the income through the offerings will exceed this year compared to the 2020 jatara. But there is a shortfall of Rs. 20 lakhs this year.” The official further said, the amount would be shared in a 33:67 ratio between the Koya priest and the Endowments department of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) Government.
Notably, there are a total of 13 priests of the Sammakka- Sarakka tribal shrine and the income’s 33% of the income would be shared equally among the 13 priests.
It may be added here that the counting of the offerings commenced on the 24th of February, after the event concluded at the TTD Kalyana Mandapam in Hanamkonda by the Endowments department staff and members of the voluntary organizations amidst tight security arrangements.
The 2022 Medaram Jatra started from the 16th of February, and concluded on the 20th of February, with a fund of Rs. 75 crores, released by K. Chandrashekar Rao led TRS Government. The four days fair witnessed footfall of over 20 lakh people.
According to the history of Medaram Jatara, Prataparudra imposed taxes on the Koya Tribe and when they were unable to pay the taxes, Prataparudra called for a war. In the war Sammakka’s husband and the Koya tribal Chief died, following which she along with her daughter, Saralamma, entered the battle ground. However, after almost winning the war against the ruler, both, Sammakka and Saralamma died and the battle ground where they died became the land to celebrate the festival. The event has been declared as a State festival by the Telangana Government and celebrated every two years.
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