KCR's Warm Traditional Welcome: Ministers Invite BRS Chief to Medaram Jatara Glory

KCR's Warm Traditional Welcome: Ministers Invite BRS Chief to Medaram Jatara Glory

In a gesture blending political courtesy and deep cultural reverence, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) chief K. Chandrashekar Rao, popularly known as KCR, extended a traditional welcome to Telangana ministers Konda Surekha and D. Seethakka at his Erravelli residence on Thursday. The ministers, representing the state government, formally invited the Leader of the Opposition to the much-anticipated Sammakka Saralamma Jatara, set to unfold from January 28 for four days in the forested village of Medaram, Mulugu district. This biennial tribal extravaganza draws millions of devotees honoring the legendary mother-daughter deities Sammakka and Saralamma, who symbolize resistance against injustice in tribal lore.

The visit unfolded with heartfelt warmth as former MP J. Santosh Kumar greeted the ministers upon arrival, setting a tone of hospitality rooted in Telangana's traditions. Seethakka, the Panchayat Raj Minister overseeing the event, and Surekha presented KCR with a ceremonial shawl, the official invitation letter, and sacred prasadam from Medaram, underscoring the festival's spiritual significance. KCR and his wife Shobha Rao reciprocated by honoring the guests with sarees, turmeric, and vermilion, while inquiring about their families' well-being in a casual exchange that bridged political divides.

This invitation aligns with the government's outreach to leaders across parties, including MLAs, MLCs, and even President Droupadi Murmu earlier, reflecting the Jatara's role as a unifying cultural force. Held every two years in the Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary, the festival transforms the quiet Medaram village—home to just 300 residents—into a pilgrimage site for over 1.25 crore people from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and beyond, with the state allocating Rs 101 crore for arrangements this year. KCR's past visits, like in 2018 when he offered jaggery thulabharam and announced Rs 200 crore for infrastructure, highlight his personal devotion, though his attendance this time remains a point of speculation amid political dynamics.

As anticipation builds for the Jatara's rituals—where deities are carried from forests to the temple amid chants and offerings—this formal call to KCR signals harmony ahead of the grand celebrations, promising a spectacle of faith, tribal heritage, and state pride.