Girijan museum highlights Sammakka contribution to unity of Tribals

Showcases tribal;culture and customs
Displays the legend and heritage of Koyas

Medaram, January.23:

Telangana govt has set up a Girijana museum at Medaram to reflect the glory of the Koya tribal and the legend of folk heroines Sammakka and Saralamma in whose tribute a four day festival, the biggest in Asia is held by end of this month.

Built at a cost of ₹ 3 crore, in flat 22 days, the three floor circular building was today inaugurated by four Telangana Ministers- Sri Kadiyam Srihari, Dy.CM, Tribal Welfare Minister Sri A.Chandulal, Endowments Minister Sri A.Indrakaran Reddy and Transport Minister Sri P. Mahender Reddy .The Girijan museum is representative of the legend of Sammakka and Saralamma the tribal women who fought the Kakatiya armies . With the bison horns at the top of the museum it also signified the power of the tribal soldiers and their prowess in fighting the enemy.

The museum comprised of six conceptual displays. First was display of tribal artifacts of 12th century including their arm- bow and arrows, swords etc . Second and third were sculptures and paintings, fourth is photos, fifth videos and replicas of sammakka Gadde, Jammpanna vagu temples etc. Highlights of display were a circular wheel with forest heroine sammakka birth to divinity and also as a benefactor of tribals with her skills in tribal medicine and curing sick people.

Another highlight of the museum is a L shaped walk through corridor display of tribal life styles, customs and traditions. The walk through introduced tribal lores, houses and also traditions to visitors in visual platform,says Dr D Satyanarayana, deputy director of tribal welfare department.

To showcase the tribal lifestyles, model bamboo machans have been laid out at the museum grounds. Some of photos displayed show the pre historic dolmens, menhirs culture among Koya tribals. Top of it is the colorfully dressed men and women of Koya tribe that is a feast to eyes of modern tourists.

-Press note