Alam in Ashura festival at Iran, Tehran

Ashura is a Muslim festival and commemorates the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of Muhammad, killed at the Battle of Karbala in Iraq in 680 CE. The festival is of particular significance to Shias. The alam has evolved over the centuries from the battle standards carried at Karbala by the Imam and his followers.

Aalam is a heavy ritual cross which is carried during the Ashura festival  Alam means "flag" or "sign" in Arabic. Above you can see a teenage boy carrying the heavy alam in an act of self-mortification for the festival of Ashura in Tehran. Ashura is marked by such acts of mourning and grief with participants often beating themselves on the chest or using chains to flagellate themselves to express their sorrow and loss.

Not more than 5 or 6 people are making alams in Iran today in the traditional way. The alam is a physical representation of symbols and allegory. An Alam is usually seen during Muharram processions and at designated sites in Shia Mosques. People who hold these Alams are referred as Alamdars (the Flag Bearers).