Saturday, March 19, 2011

Graffiti Artist Loomit

176,340 items / 1,381,417 views

if you have
an empty
wall to paint
just zoom it
call street
painter
graffiti
artist
loomit
he will change
the contour
the canvas
of life its
soul
he will exhume it
with a new poetic
thought
costume it
groom it
holistically
heal it
perfume it

Jesus Is Perplexed With Cross Demolition Situation in Mumbai

All Excited For The 100 Birthday of His Holiness Syedna Saab

Blogging The World Upside Down

mera number kab aayega

Photographers Are The Biggest Bullshitters Next Poets

For Poets From India On a Poetry Website

I Was Fucked The Day I Was Born...

Womens Eyes Are The Greatest Deceptive Tool

Rushing To School

My Beloved Mail Box Was Murdered By G Mail

Colors of Life And We Celebrate Holi Everyday

This Is Bandra Where Everyone is In Oxymoron Haste

Jesus My Only Living Best Friend

Street Photographers Paint With Light And Shade

If I Was Not A Street Photographer I Would Have Been A Cosmic Poet

Street Photography Is A Poem Evolving Through The Lens of a Camera

Street Photography Is Creating An Illusion Out of Reality

The Never Changing Life of The Marathi Manoos

176,258 items / 1,380,859 views

under the tree
of progress
he sits
martyred hopes
doomed aspirations
bad luck on the loose
his vote has not
made a difference
to his life its true
he is where he was
since the time
from a child
to an adult
he grew
the same corner
the same thikana
the same venue
with his surroundings
he has no issue
governments come
governments go
so many promises
all broken after
the elections
only lord ganesha
to his rescue
for peace hope
humanity
lord brahma vishnu
standing in queue
at the temple
of hope and democracy
this devoted hindu

The Never Changing Life of The Marathi Manoos

Jesus The Silent Sacrificial Lamb of Bandra


176,258 items / 1,380,725 views

in the name
of progress
in the name
of widening
the roads
they made
the churches their
walls forgo and soon
came the hawkers
to occupy
the empty spaces
we all know now they
want crosses to go
with cudgels ready
blow after blow
in amchi mumbai
jesus
has become
an eyesore
i speak of jesus
because i studied
in a catholic school
what i am to them
i owe
they made
me a good
human being
a good muslim
a good mumbaikar
all the more
different religions
different paths
a single destination
a single door
a lyrical thought
a poetic score

Getting Rid Of Jesus Is Now On The Agenda From The Crossroads of Peace

Lent At Bandra Gaothan

176,258 items / 1,380,719 views

Gaothan is the name given to fishing village communities..I live in what was once Bandra gaothan...


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lent

Lent in the Christian tradition, is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer — through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial — for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

According to the Canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus spent forty days fasting in the desert before the beginning of his public ministry, where he endured temptation by Satan.[1][2] Thus, Lent is described as being forty days long, though different denominations calculate the forty days differently.

This practice is common to much of Christendom, being celebrated by Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, and Anglicans.[3][3][4][4] Lent is increasingly being observed by other denominations as well, even such groups that have historically ignored Lent, such as Baptists and Mennonites.

Duration

Most followers of Western Christianity observe Lent beginning on Ash Wednesday and concluding on Holy Saturday.[2][5] The six Sundays in this period are not counted because each one represents a "mini-Easter," a celebration of Jesus' victory over sin and death.[1] One notable exception is the Archdiocese of Milan which follows the Ambrosian Rite and observes Lent starting on the Sunday, 6 weeks before Easter.[6]

Since the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic Church has redefined Good Friday & Holy Saturday as the first two days of the Easter Triduum rather than the last two days of Lent, but Lenten observances are maintained until the Easter Vigil.

In those churches which follow the Rite of Constantinople (e.g. Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholics), the forty days of Lent are counted differently; also, the date of Pascha (Easter) is calculated differently in the East than in the West (see Computus). The fast begins on Clean Monday, and Sundays are included in the count; thus, counting uninterruptedly from Clean Monday, Great Lent ends on the fortieth consecutive day, which is the Friday before Palm Sunday. The days of Lazarus Saturday, Palm Sunday and Holy Week are considered a distinct period of fasting. For more detailed information about the Eastern Christian practice of Lent, see the article Great Lent.

Amongst Oriental Orthodox Christians, there are various local traditions regarding Lent. The Coptic, Ethiopian and Eritrean Orthodox Churches observe eight weeks of Lent, which, with both Saturdays and Sundays exempt, has forty days of fasting.[6] Joyous Saturday and the week preceding it are counted separately from the forty day fast in accordance with the Apostolic Constitutions giving an extra eight days. The first seven days of the fast are considered by some to be an optional time of preparation.[citation needed] Others attribute these seven days to the fast of Holofernes who asked the Syrian Christians to fast for him after they requested his assistance to repel the invading pagan Persians.
Other related fasting periods

The number forty has many Biblical references: the forty days Moses spent on Mount Sinai with God (Exodus 24:18); the forty days and nights Elijah spent walking to Mount Horeb (1 Kings 19:8); the forty days and nights God sent rain in the great flood of Noah (Genesis 7:4); the forty years the Hebrew people wandered in the desert while traveling to the Promised Land (Numbers 14:33); the forty days Jonah in his prophecy of judgment gave the city of Nineveh in which to repent (Jonah 3:4).

Jesus retreated into the wilderness, where he fasted for forty days, and was tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1-2, Mark 1:12-13, Luke 4:1-2). He overcame all three of Satan's temptations by citing scripture to the devil, at which point the devil left him, angels ministered to Jesus, and he began his ministry. Jesus further said that his disciples should fast "when the bridegroom shall be taken from them" (Matthew 9:15), a reference to his Passion. Since, presumably, the Apostles fasted as they mourned the death of Jesus, Christians have traditionally fasted during the annual commemoration of his burial.

It is the traditional belief that Jesus lay for forty hours in the tomb[6] which led to the forty hours of total fast that preceded the Easter celebration in the early Church[7] (the biblical reference to 'three days in the tomb' is understood as spanning three days, from Friday afternoon to early Sunday morning, rather than three 24 hour periods of time). One of the most important ceremonies at Easter was the baptism of the initiates on Easter Eve. The fast was initially undertaken by the catechumens to prepare them for the reception of this sacrament. Later, the period of fasting from Good Friday until Easter Day was extended to six days, to correspond with the six weeks of training, necessary to give the final instruction to those converts who were to be baptized.

Converts to Christianity followed a strict catechumenate or period of instruction and discipline prior to baptism. In Jerusalem near the close of the fourth century, classes were held throughout Lent for three hours each day. With the legalization of Christianity (by the Edict of Milan) and its later imposition as the state religion of the Roman Empire, its character was endangered by the great influx of new members. In response, the Lenten fast and practices of self-renunciation were required annually of all Christians, both to show solidarity with the catechumens, and for their own spiritual benefit.
Etymology

In Latin the term quadragesima (translation of the original Greek Τεσσαρακοστή, Tessarakostē, the "fortieth" day before Easter) is used. This nomenclature is preserved in Romance, Slavic and Celtic languages (for example, Spanish cuaresma, Portuguese quaresma, French carême, Italian quaresima, Croatian korizma, Irish Carghas, and Welsh C(a)rawys).

In the late Middle Ages, as sermons began to be given in the vernacular instead of Latin, the English word lent was adopted. This word initially simply meant spring (as in the German language Lenz and Dutch lente) and derives from the Germanic root for long because in the spring the days visibly lengthen.[8]
Associated customs

There are traditionally forty days in Lent which are marked by fasting, both from foods and festivities, and by other acts of penance. The three traditional practices to be taken up with renewed vigour during Lent are prayer (justice towards God), fasting (justice towards self), and almsgiving (justice towards neighbour). Today, some people give up a vice of theirs, add something that will bring them closer to God, and often give the time or money spent doing that to charitable purposes or organizations.[9]

In many liturgical Christian denominations, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday form the Easter Triduum.[10] Lent is a season of grief that necessarily ends with a great celebration of Easter. It is known in Eastern Orthodox circles as the season of "Bright Sadness." It is a season of sorrowful reflection which is punctuated by breaks in the fast on Sundays.

In the Roman Catholic Mass, Lutheran Divine Service, and Anglican Eucharist, the Gloria in Excelsis Deo is not sung during the Lenten season, disappearing on Ash Wednesday and not returning until the moment of the Resurrection during the Easter Vigil. On major feast days, the Gloria in Excelsis Deo is recited, but this in no way diminishes the penitential character of the season; it simply reflects the joyful character of the Mass of the day in question. It is also used in the Mass of the Lord's Supper. Likewise, the Alleluia is not sung during Lent; it is replaced before the Gospel reading by a seasonal acclamation. In the pre-1970 form of the Roman Rite omission of the Alleluia begins with Septuagesima. In the Byzantine Rite, the Gloria (Great Doxology) continues to be used in its normal place in the Matins service, and the Alleluia appears all the more frequently, replacing "God is the Lord" at Matins.

The last two weeks of Lent are known as Passiontide. It begins on the Fifth Sunday in Lent, which in the 1962 edition of the Roman Missal is called the First Sunday in Passiontide and in earlier editions Passion Sunday. All statues (and in England paintings as well) in the church were traditionally veiled in violet, and according to the rubrics should continue to be so. This was seen to be in accordance with the Gospel of that Sunday (John 8:46-59), in which Jesus “hid himself” from the people. The veils were removed at the singing of the Gloria during the Easter Vigil. Following Vatican II, and in the Reformed Kalendar of 1969, the name Passiontide was formally dropped, although the last two weeks are markedly different from the rest of the season. The tradition of veiling images is left to the decision of a country's conference of bishops.

The Friendly Koli Race of Mumbai

The Kolis of Mumbai.. Pride Our Heritage and Our City

176,258 items / 1,380,681 views

Manjula is like a sister to me and Marziya has spent a lot of time with Manjula..and I dare not tell in those days to Marziyas mother why Marziya always smelt of fish..

And today Marziya 3 year old shoots the Kolis and the fish market at Bandra Bazar as passionately as I do.

Manjula Koli Worli Gaon

176,258 items / 1,380,681 views

Last year I shot the Holi festival, burning of the Holi at Worli gaon with my dear friend Jean Paul from France..and a year has slipped away.

Manjula and her Koli family had invited us there, Manjula has her fish stall at Bandra Fish Market and is Marziyas favorite , because Marziya understands the koli language thanks to Manjula, Marziya has grown up in Manjuls lap, the fisherwomen at the Bandra Bazr call my grand daughter Marziya Koli.

But Marziya does not eat fish as her mother does not eat fish too..

Manjula had invited me for her daughters wedding but I just could not make it I was out of town.

I have a great respect for the Kolis having lived for a short while at Manjlapada Danda where we had our first independent home..

The riots of 93 changed all that I shall not talk about it on this blog ..of peace hope and humanity.


I dont know whether I will go to Worli again but yes I do and will always miss Alibagh on Holi day I spent with Jayant Dhulap his family shooting the Alibagh bullock cart races..

Its been two years that they have been discontinued I was told.

Lalbagh Chya Raja Calls Me Every Year Without Fail

176,195 items / 1,380,527 views


barefeet
on the day
of his visarjan
from lalbaugh
to girgaum chowpatty
a path i trail
his hospitality
his humility
his blessings
i avail
his love for me as
a mumbaikar at all
time prevails
as a photographer
i shoot him in
poetic detail
to his lovers
his followers
fortune fame
peace prosperity
he unveils
holistically healing
our tortured souls
our travails giving
us hope full scale
with tears from
the shore
they watch him
as he set sails
purcha varshi
laokar ya
they shout
they cry
they wail

Taken For a Ride

24,260 Views on My Pictures Today At Flickr.com

Mumbai Sizzles at 41 degrees Celsius

We Have Switched To Tata Power As Mr Anil Ambani Hung up On Us

Jesus Suffers During Lent In Mumbai

Rising Prices Scams Corruption and Jesus

Chanawala


Chanawala, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

Healing Hands

Jesus Bachao

Marziya Shakir Youngest Street Photographer In The World

The Headless Blogger Shot By Marziya Shakir 3 Year Old

Pictures are poem and each one reads and understands a poem differently...yes Marziya shoots poems as incomplete as the soul of a poet she shot.. bloggers are headless with due respect , blogs are not figments of the mind they are lyrical pieces of a mans soul his heart passion and poetry.

Shooting The Soul of a Grandfather Shot By Marziya Shakir 3 Year Old

Marziya shoots me and she really shoots my inner pain , my turmoils and my turbulence revealing every nuance of my life in a single frame.

But mind you Marziya shoots me like a street...a street without beginning or end a street which is only a street and not a destination...she could have shot a beggar she almost did...street photography is an attitude it is a metaphor of timelessness going round and round in circles and ending up back from where we started.

And so along with Marziyai I Unlearn photography too...

Muslim Beggar Shot By Marziya Shakir 3 Year Old

176,197 items / 1,380,420 views

Marziyas pictures are figments of Marziyas mind, what I saw does not matter it was what Marziya saw shot that completes the mystery of life and the drama of the poetry of life.

Marziyas pictures are vast stretches of the innocence of her mind..and Marziya sees her pictures on the computer screen and will proudly claim it as her picture ...Dada yeh hamne liya tha...Grandpa I took this one.


And I know if not today perhaps in some long distant tomorrow Marziya will understand this medium of picture taking more poetically than me...photography is an extension of poetry.

The gamut of street life shot in a singe frame...and the street is a vast ocean of ships sailing to stay afloat...with or without mast with or without bearings some rudderless some will sooner or later capsize...some will reach shore as survivors of a great tsunami of lifes waves... hitting the soul of the destiny of man.

So Marziyas pictures shot at the age of 3 are stanzas seamlessly uniquely intensifying a given moment captured in all its slithering fleetness.

And Marziya is a impulsive as I am when taking pictures she knows when to stop and when not to take pictures.


Its impulses triggered on the soul of the mechanism of the mind that create pictures.

Studying photography I dont know..I know I am unlearning photography through the gift of life of a three year old child.

A child who began shooting her universe with a blindfold... shooting darkness creating light.

The toy miniature camera that was Marziyas first camera is always there and she uses it even now pretending to take shots to get rid of her childlike melancholia and boredom.

Allah Ke Nam Pe...

Only This Will Never End ...Muslim Beggar Woman

176,159 items / 1,379,966 views

So many madrasas so many ijtimas but not a single woman volunteer to find out why she is out on the streets begging .. all cant be Hindu beggars dressed in burkhas the general laid back racist of a thought among some holier than thou Muslims of Mumbai...

This is one aspect of Muslim degradation deprivation the Muslim loves not to see ignore but as a photographer and as a poet I shall capture the soul of humanity.. not just Muslim society but the government too is too blame..

The Affable Bhaiyya Fruit Man

176,156 items / 1,379,941 views

If Madam instead of building statues gardens and parks that are never going to the change the quality of their lives had created a Mumbai or even a Kalyan in Uttar Pradesh perhaps these Bhaiyya migrants would not need to come to Mumbai...

And as Indians they can move from one state to another state to change the quality of their lives ..as a Mumbaikar I dont think I could ever leave Mumbai and this is my personal opinion I think I would die if I was to live or become a citizen of another country...my country is my Paradise on Earth..

And I am happy about 70 years back my Dad decided to move to Mumbai from Lucknow instead of any other city...

Shooting The Girl Child In The Slums

176,154 items / 1,379,935 views


Education is the need of the hour for the slum child specially the girl child...

Shooting The Soul of The Children In The Slums

176,151 items / 1,379,872 views

The Bandra slum kids look normal ordinary usually but if you see them on feast days Like Ramzan or Bakra Eid they are gaudily dressed , the girls look like the mothers with a sackful of talcum powder on their face and smudged lipstick glittering lame gowns and a purse to collect eidi from relatives , the little boys in readymade suits and sherwanis depending on their dads income.

Wedding times are joyous moments with hijras dancing the daily squabbles are forgotten everyone has a great time..but the kids and the women love political rallies during election time and if Salman Khan is part of the cavalcade it is rip roaring moment, he is the favorite of the slum people , a popularity no Bollywood actor has in slum lands of Bandra West.

Shooting the slums is fine on the whole it is bitter and distressing when natural calamity strikes like the one at Garib Nagar...the most dreaded moments in slums are fires and heavy rains ...and the builder lobby would love to have control of the slums the fastest way to big bucks and prosperity.

And I must add here fires in slums are unsolved mysteries everyone knows who has done it but none have the balls to spell out the truth,,, the file will be closed anyway..more important than the survival of the slums is the survival of the government both at state level and center...luckily this is not a political blog..

Shooting The Soul of The Bandra Slums

176,150 items / 1,379,809 views

I had a lot of pictures in my camera I have just downloaded to my computer I was too lazy to get them on the Internet.

This Indraji Nagar Bandra close to my house , my short cut to my work space cutting through a narrow path and coming out near the transit camp , Bandra Jain Mandir finally towards Bandra Hill Road.

This is high up the ladder slums as compared to the slums in the Bandra Eat area, and maybe these cheek by cheek houses dark dim are not as gloomy as one finds in the east..Hindus Muslims live peacefully in harmony over here..

On my way to work I pass Iqbal Bhai Slumdog caterer who allows me to savor his fare , last evening I had Koliwada Rawas fish , he would have given me some more but the guy had counted the number of fish pieces and given it to Iqbal bhai for frying only..

Last week I ordered Mutton Khichda a kilo I paid him Rs 500.. so I have a good relationship and he likes me because I shoot his pictures too..he is one of the best caterers this side of Bandra.

Its the slum kids who wait for me both morning and afternoon to be photographed and made famous on the Internet.

The goat in the picture is being fattened for Bakra Eid...

This is a very quite peaceful slum a few ladies brawls that adds to the poetry of my life too.. there are no hijras in this slum but they are at Lal Mitti.. I have not seen their shanties though I know most of them specially Reshma Hijra who was actually a boy known as Asif..

Her specialty is dancing at Muslim weddings in the slums..


The Bandra West slums on my side are quite different from the slums known as Shastri Nagar near the Bandra Bus Depot and Bandra West Railway station..I have shot this slum during Ramzan.. from the outside without going in the dinghy bylanes.

Slum photography is a unique opportunity to capture the soul of those living on the edge...

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