WARANGAL (MULUGU): Union minister for tribal affairs Jual Oram on Thursday hailed the Sammakka–Saralamma Jatara as the Maha Kumbh Mela of the tribal community during his visit to Medaram in Mulugu district, accompanied by Union minister for coal and mines G. Kishan Reddy. After offering prayers at the shrine, Oram said the Centre remains committed to preserving tribal heritage and is supporting the mega festival by sanctioning ₹3 crore every year for the jatara. The Union ministers were received at the temple entrance with traditional tribal honours and drum beats by state ministers Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Seethakka and Adluri Laxman Kumar. Addressing the media, Oram described the jatara as the largest tribal congregation in the country and said he was visiting the shrine after a gap of 20 years, following directions from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The visit concluded with the Union ministers thanking the state government and local officials for effective coordination in managing the lakhs of devotees attending the month-long festivities.