Archive · 20 Jan 2026
All-Women Panel to Manage Medaram Jatara
For the first time ever, a group of women will be in charge of a big festival called Medaram Jatara in India.
This festival is very important and attracts many people.
The women's group is led by a woman named Irupa Swarupa.
The festival honors two goddesses, Sammakka and Sarakka, who are known for their bravery.
The women in charge are excited and see this as a great chance to show how strong women can be.
The festival is about a mother and daughter who fought against unfair rules a long time ago.
Many people in the area are happy about this new change and hope it will make the festival even better.
There was some disagreement about the symbols used in the temple modernization, but after careful study and discussion, everyone agreed that the symbols are important to the tribal culture and history.
An all-women committee will manage the Medaram Jatara festival for the first time in its history.
The 14-member committee is led by chairperson Irupa Swarupa and includes 11 women directors.
The decision was made by panchayat raj minister Seethakka to honor the goddesses Sammakka and Sarakka.
The festival commemorates the bravery of a mother and daughter against unjust taxation.
The Warangal region has a strong tradition of women leadership, with several women in key positions.
Tribal leaders raised concerns about the inclusion of symbols like the Swastik and Shanku Chakra in the temple modernization, fearing misrepresentation of Adivasi history.
Researchers defended the symbols as authentic and indigenous, documented in ancient Koya texts.
The modernization project involves 7,000 carvings and the placement of four deities in a single row, approved by tribal priests.
- Who
- An all-women committee led by Irupa Swarupa and tribal leaders, researchers, and government officials
- What
- Management of the Medaram Jatara festival and modernization of the Sammakka-Saralamma temple
- When
- Not specified, but recent
- Where
- Warangal, Telangana, India
- Why
- To honor the goddesses Sammakka and Sarakka, demonstrate feminine strength, and preserve tribal history and culture
Tribal Leaders
Research Team and Government
Symbols in Modernization
Tribal Leaders
The inclusion of symbols like the Swastik and certain stone carvings (Shanku and Chakra) imposes external religious traditions onto the nature-worshipping Koya culture and misrepresents Adivasi history.
Research Team and Government
The symbols are authentic and indigenous 'Adi-symbols' representing specific tribal lineages and nature-based belief systems, as documented in ancient Koya texts.
- Festival
- Medaram Jatara
- Committee Members
- 14
- Committee Chairperson
- Irupa Swarupa
- Panchayat Raj Minister
- Seethakka
- Goddesses Honored
- Sammakka and Sarakka
- Festival Significance
- Largest congregations in the world
- Region
- Warangal, Telangana
- Modernization Project
- Involves 7,000 carvings and placement of four deities in a single row
- Tribal Leaders' Concerns
- Symbols like Swastik and Shanku Chakra misrepresent Adivasi history
- Research Team's Defense
- Symbols are authentic and indigenous, documented in ancient Koya texts
