Khammam Koya Tribal Mahua Bamboo Forest Goods Telangana

Khammam district bordering Odisha and Chhattisgarh is one of Telangana's most forested districts, where the Koya, Konda Reddi, and Gond tribal communities in the Bhadrachalam agency area maintain forest-based livelihoods centred on mahua flower collection, bamboo basketry, and NTFP gathering in the Kinnerasani and Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuaries. Bhadrachalam's Ramalayam temple on the Godavari river bank is one of Telugu devotion's most important shrines, drawing lakhs of pilgrims for Vaikunta Ekadasi. The Koya community's ritual of Sammakka-Saralamma Jatara — a biennial tribal festival at Medaram in the Jayashankar Bhupalpally district that draws 10 million+ tribal devotees — is the world's largest tribal gathering, honouring two tribal women leaders who fought the Kakatiya rulers.