CM Revanth Reddy slams Centre for ignoring Telangana’s Sammakka Sarakka Jatara while funding Kumbh Mela. Calls for national festival status.

Hyderabad: Telangana chief minister A. Revanth Reddy has strongly criticized the Union government for neglecting the Sammakka Sarakka Jatara, one of India’s largest tribal gatherings, held in Medaram, Mulugu district.

Speaking at a public meeting, the CM pointed out that the Centre readily allocates thousands of crores for events like the Kumbh Mela, yet continues to ignore Telangana’s biggest cultural festival. He demanded that the Jatara be accorded national status, arguing that tribals — “the first inhabitants of this land” — deserve recognition and respect at the highest level.

Reddy further assured that all pending infrastructure works around the Sammakka Saralamma temple would be completed before the next edition of the Maha Jatara. He also pledged to involve local priests and tribal leaders in developmental activities linked to the shrine.

Editorial note: The neglect of the Medaram Jatara reflects a regional imbalance in cultural funding. If the Centre can generously back religious festivals in the Hindi heartland, it should apply the same yardstick to tribal and regional traditions. Recognizing the Jatara nationally would not only boost Telangana’s cultural pride but also improve tourism and livelihoods for forest-dwelling communities.