Hyderabad: The Sammakka Sarakka Temple Committee on Wednesday announced the dates for the biennial Medaram ‘Sammakka Sarakka Jatara 2026’. The largest congregation of devotees, the Jatara will be held from January 28 to 31, 2026.

The Jatara, held in Medaram within the Tadwai mandal of Mulugu district, is anticipated to attract millions of devotees from across India. On 28 January, festivities will commence with the procession of Saralamma, Govindaraju, and Pagiddidda Raju.

The following day, Sammakka Talli will make her arrival at the Gadde from Chilakalagutta.

On 30 January, devotees will pay their respects, with the Vana Pravesha programme culminating the festivities on 31 January, when a large number of devotees will honour Sammakka, Saralamma Vanadevatalu, Govinda Raju, and Pagiddidda Raju.

Since being declared a state festival by the Telangana government in 2014, the Medaram Jatara has seen an influx of attendees from neighbouring states, including Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, and beyond. Devotees, often arriving in their millions, offer jaggery, revered as ‘gold’, to the goddess, with authorities implementing extensive arrangements to accommodate the massive gathering.