ALAM VACHINI

“ALAM VACHINI’ is the name of a ceremony. The people of the DEILAMAN (GILAN state) have a special religious ceremony.

you can find some pictures in the following address:

http://nooraghayee.com/gallery/?level=album&id=57

Alam vachini
This ceremoney is a kind of Harvest Thanks Giving festival which nowadays is symbolized as a mourning gathering . But at the same time you can see the open market nearby that shows Gilani people’s social activities and all . Actually the ceremoney last only for about an hour , but the market was there from morning to evening. Anyways… the ceremoney began at 3 p.m. At that time someone started mourning and an old man , called ALAMDAAR  ( the man who carries Alam ), brought Alam and put it in the middle of the small square in front of the offspring of the holy shrine . The youth were repeating Nauhas while beating their chests. It’s necessary to say that Alamdaar wasn’t allowing anyone to touch Alam or even come close to it . It seemed it was his annual task and on such a great day , he was a very important people . He was crossed_eye  in his right eye  and it reminded me ” one – eye savants” in Scandinavians myths in which losing an eye equals grasping wisdom , as in pirates .
Alam was a three – meter – stick on which a golden metal was stuck above it alike other alams . Some colorful scarfs and clothes were tied to Alam which were supposed to be opened during the ceremoney . Then a carpet was brought , but as it was a little bit short , the old man didn’t let them lay Alam on it and made them bring another carpet . Then Alamdaar put alam on the carpet . It was covered by a white cloth and a pillow was put under its head. As if there is a pationt there and all people want to make him feel comfortable . After that women sat around it and started crying loudly . Then the crowd came across , paying some money to Alamdaar to let them undo the knots on the scarfs and clothes . There was a strange excitement for about 10 minutes . They were opening the clothes , rubbing them on their faces and bodies as a sacred object then letting others to take their position…
I was wondering if I was watching a sacrifice offering feasts . I mean someone ( = Alam ) was sacrified and through its blood ( = the clothes ) other’s wishes were to be granted . They had already chosen the sacrificial person ( = Alam ) by tying the clothes and scarfs to it and now they were asking for their right … !
Reported by : Arash Nooraghayee
Summarized & translated by : Nahid Saadatian