This vlog is about Alamikkali - an art form which symbolises communal harmony.
Alamis were soldiers of the Mysore King Tipu Sultan who invaded these parts of Malabar coast during the British Raj. It has a link to the Muharram celebration as well which was related to the war of Karbala.
Hazrath Imam Hussain who fought against the misrule of the dictator Yazeedi has faced several atrocities . Yazeedi’s soldiers coloured their body in fearful black to scare the children of Hussain.
Alamis with barefeet visit house holds as beggars during 10 festive days of Muharram chanting traditional songs. The body of Alamis are dark coloured with white spots to scare onlookers but their songs pacify also .
This Alamikkali originated from the now famous Alamipalli in Kanhangad where several families of Urdu speaking Hanafi sect of Muslims were concentrated and later spread to other parts of the district and to Mangalore.
The play was widely accepted as a secular way of entertainment where Hindus have an exclusive right to perform in a Muslim customary rituals “
