Maori representatives from New Zealand traveled to Medaram Telangana for a special cultural exchange which included their performance of traditional Maori Haka dance during the Sammakka-Saralamma Jatara celebration. The dance performance transformed the event into an international celebration which showcases one of the world’s largest tribal festivals.
The Haka dance performance which people worldwide recognize for its powerful movements and deep cultural meanings attracted many Jatara visitors who came to see the traditional festival that occurs in the lush Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary area of Mulugu district.
The Indo-New Zealand cultural exchange program brought Maori representatives to India for their visit which aimed to establish stronger relationships between indigenous groups who live on different continents.The Maori delegation received a welcome from Seethakka the Minister of Telangana Panchayat Raj and Rural Development who joined the group during their performance.
The Minister explained that tribal communities around the world maintain strong ties with natural environments forested areas and their shared cultural heritage. She explained that indigenous groups build mutual understanding through their cultural interactions.
The Maori delegation members were taken to the Medaram tribal deities after their performance. The officials described the historical and cultural importance of Sammakka and Saralamma, who are honored as historical leaders of the Koya tribe.
People celebrate The Sammakka-Saralamma Jatara better known as Medaram Jatara to honor two women who fought against unjust tax collection and government oppression. The festival has grown into the largest tribal festival because their story shows both their courage and their willingness to sacrifice everything.
The four-day festival, which takes place every two years, draws millions of visitors from Telangana and surrounding states which include Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Devotees participate in the rituals by offering prayers and making symbolic sacrifices which include providing jaggery that matches their body weight. Tribal priests carry out the ceremonies by using Koya community customs which show their different cultural practices.
The Maori delegation, which marked the first international tribal group to attend Medaram, represented a global indigenous unity while demonstrating how tribal traditions endure through different cultures and regions.
