A historic cultural moment unfolded at the Medaram Sammakka-Saralamma tribal shrine in Mulugu district on January 26, 2026. For the first time ever, a Maori kapa haka delegation from New Zealand performed their energetic haka dance alongside local Koya tribal cultural teams. The event coincided with the 77th Republic Day of India, adding deep symbolic meaning to the celebrations. The Maori kapa haka is a powerful group dance with chants that express identity, unity, and ancestral pride. It is performed on important occasions like welcome, farewell, battle, celebration, and protest and is known as the living spirit of the Maori people. Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister Danasari Anasuya Seethakka, belonging to the Koya tribal community herself, joined the Maori dancers, earning cheers from the crowd. She said, "Tribals across the world live in harmony with forests and nature. Our lifestyles, beliefs and philosophies reflect a shared worldview." After the dance, the Maori delegation visited for darshan of the tribal deities, with Minister Seethakka explaining the history and meaning of the Sammakka-Saralamma Jatara, which honors tribal resistance and ecological respect. As a token of respect, the minister gave traditional jaggery offerings called bangaram to the visitors. Charu Das, Director of the CD Foundation, credited State ministers and Indian diplomatic missions in New Zealand for making the event possible. District Collector T. S. Divakara, SP Sudhir R. Kekan, and other officials attended the event.