Video of Mappila Theyyam Ritual In Kerala Peddled As Karnataka

FactCheck

BOOM found that the video shows a dance ritual named Mappila Theyyam that is practiced at several towns and villages in Kerala's Kasargod district. We performed a reverse image search on one of the keyframes using the keyword 'Kasargod' in Malayalam and found a video uploaded by Mediaone TV on December 23, 2022. The Malayalam title with the video translates to, "The video of Theyyam performing the azaan is going viral.. Footage from Kasaragod...". The description with the video states, "The scene of Theiyam doing azaan is going viral.. The footage of Bapirian Theiyam and Manichi doing the azaan from Sri Komaraya Devasthanam at Kasaragod Madikkai Kanjirapo," hinting that the video is from the Sri Komaraya temple in Kasargod. We also found several news reports mentioning that Mappila Theyyam is a symbol of communal harmony which portrays Hinu-Muslim unity adding Islamic rituals in a Hindu dance form. BOOM had debunked the same video in April this year when it went viral with another false and communal claim.