In a remarkable display of community-led heritage preservation, a group of highly educated youth from the Koya tribe has spearheaded the renovation of the sacred Sammakka Saralamma site for the upcoming Medaram Jatara. Asia's largest biennial tribal festival, set to be held from January 28 to 31, will welcome devotees into a premises freshly adorned with authentic Adivasi cultural elements, thanks to their efforts.
From Protest to Project: The Journey of Tribal Scholars
The initiative began as a protest. When the group learned that the government was considering models inspired by Buddhist Shanti Stupas for the site's renovation, they mobilized under their organization, Tudum Debba. Arun Kumar Mypathi, founder of the Sammakka Saralamma Archaeology Research Institute and the project's overseer, explained the turning point. "Officials were struggling to find appropriate designs. Since our 15 years of research material was already here, we offered our help. Within 24 hours, we submitted 7,000 ancient images from our archives," said Arun, who holds a PhD in Public Administration. This swift action led to their formal inclusion in the renovation project.
The core team comprises five PhD holders and ten postgraduates. Alongside Arun, the scholars include Santosh Kumar (PhD in English Literature), Kaka Swathi (PhD in Archaeology), Kaka Navya (PhD in Linguistics), and Danasari Lalitha (PhD in English Literature). They dedicated approximately 100 days, overseeing every aspect from design creation and artwork shortlisting to translation work.
Infusing Ancient Motifs into Sacred Space
The team provided a wealth of traditional motifs for the renovation, all sourced directly from their extensive research. The designs now featured at the site include:
- The unicorn and trishul
- Lord Anjaneya and the swastik
- Symbols of Adi Shakti, the tiger, and the elephant
- Various birds, animals, and the crescent moon
"All the images used in the design are drawn from our palm-leaf manuscripts, collected from the hills along the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border," Arun emphasized. "They depict our culture as well as that of the pujaris, including traditions and customs." This ensures the renovation authentically represents the Koya community's heritage.
A Collective Effort for a Community Festival
The work is a true community endeavor. At any given time, 8 to 10 members are physically present at the Medaram site to monitor progress, while others support remotely with research and translation. Ten postgraduate students from the tribe, studying at universities across India including Delhi University and Central University of MP, are also contributing.
"We are carrying out the work as our own, because this is our jatara," said Santosh Kumar. The team has been provided with vehicle, food, and accommodation. While the five PhD holders are offering their services free of cost, the ten PG students, who have no other income, are expected to be paid Rs 1,000 per day for their work.
In addition to the physical renovation, the team is preparing informational material for the Medaram Jatara in Telugu, English, Koya, and Hindi, handling all related typing and translation. Their contribution has earned praise from both Mulugu MLA Dansari Anasuya and the district collector, who confirmed the work is being carried out under the team's guidance.
With over two crore (20 million) people expected to attend the festival this year, the renovated site stands as a powerful testament to the role of indigenous knowledge and youth leadership in preserving cultural heritage.
