Thursday, September 12, 2013

Hee Shaan Konachi - Lalbagh Chya Raja Chi ..

This was the second time in my life I shot from the main stage , normally I shot from below, I was unfortunate not able to shoot the first look or the Press Darshan.. second time in a row.. last year I was shooting Lewis Hamilton racing across Kurla for Vodafone ..

About Lalbagh Chya Raja



Lalbaugcha Raja is the most famous Sarvajanik Ganapati, [1] kept at Lalbaug, a prominent locality in Mumbai during Ganesh Chaturti festival. The idol is kept for public display for Eleven days thereafter it is immersed on the auspicious day of Anant Chaturdashi. The pendal attracts hundreds of thousands of devotees during the festival[2] and is the center of prime attraction.There are two lines for taking blessings of the Lalbaugcha Raja - THE NAVSACHI LINE and MUKH DARSHANACHI LINE.Around 18 LAC people visit the mandal on the 1st day of ganeshutsav .It takes around 25-30 and sometimes 40 hours for THE NAVSACHI LINE and 15-20 hours for MUKH DARSHANACHI LINE to reach the ganpati stage due to the long lines ranging from 5 to 6 km. Many times MUKH DARSHANACHI LINE reaches Byculla and THE NAVSACHI LINE reaches very very far.
It is believed that this Idol of Lord Ganesha is Navsacha Ganpati (which means the fulfiller of all wishes) and hence around 1.5 million people or more visit this Ganesh Pandal daily during the 10 day Ganeshotsav festival.Soon Lalbaugcha Raja is supposed to be a pigrim place.
Since last few years, few days prior to the Ganesh Chaturthi day, Mukh Darshan Ceremony (Lalbaugcha Raja's first look and photoshoot) is organised by Lalbaug Sarvajanik Ganeshostav mandal. This year the ceremony took place on Thursday, September 5, 2013. This unveiling of Lalbaugcha Raja is covered every year by all national and regional channels.[3]

Lalbaugcha Raja is the popular Ganesh Idol of Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal. The Mandal, formerly known as Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, Lalbaug[4] was founded in 1934 at Lalbaug Market.
History[edit source | editbeta]

The Mandal, formerly known as 'Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, Lalbaug' was founded in 1934,[5] because of a vow (Navas) for construction of the present Lalbaug Market at its existing place. The market place at Peru Chawl was shut down in 1932. Hence, the fishermen and vendors [ i.e. the KOLI people] who used to sit in the open place vowed to Ganesha for permanent place for their market. With the consistent efforts and support of the then local Councillor-Late Shri. Kuwarji Jethabhai Shah, Dr. V. B. Korgaonkar, Shri. Nakhawa Kokam Mama, Bhausaheb Shinde, Dr. U. A. Rao and the local residents, the landlord Rajabai Tayyabali agreed to give a plot for construction of a market. As fulfillment of their wish, the fisherman and the traders established the Ganesh Idol on 12 September 1934. The idol was dressed in the customary fashion of fisherman. Since that day onwards, this Lord Ganesh has become popular as it fulfills the wishes of devotees. The Mandal was formed in the era when the freedom struggle was at its peak.

From Wikepedia ..
I have been shooting Lalbagh Chya Raja since 2004 ,,promoting Hindu Muslim Amity through my blogs ,,

Mr Digambar Kamat Ex CM Goa Invites Me To Goa ,..

When Mr Javed Shroff Tells Him I Am A Muslim Who Shoots Lalbagh Chya Raja Every Year

Lalbagh Chya Raja Gives Me A Second Chance Today ,,,



I had taken a cab, reached Lalbagh Chya Raja Pandal barefeet , I was carrying my Canon EOS 7D ,, I had called Raju Langewal and Mr Sunil Joshi as I was carrying a monetary bhet or Gift to the Raja from Mrs Shatrughan Sinha but both had switched of their mobile phones  .. I was to give it at the Press Darshan but I missed it ..last week..

It was tough getting in despite my Press Card , with a turban on my head the cops just would not let me go in , but I convinced them and once I entered the enclosure , it was tougher going towards the podium or even the Press Enclosure , I could hardly find any volunteer that knew me , but somehow their main Karya Karta Sagar spotted me I rushed up on the dais shot several frames and left soon after searching for Raju Bhai to hand over the envelop .. but the crowd pushed me out on the street it was very crowded today , I thought  I would have a look at my images and than realized there was no memory card in my camera ..  I was stupid dumb to say the least.. I knew it would be impossible to go in again ,,, and than I spotted Mr Javed Shroff I called out to him , he was with the ex Chief Minister of Goa and they helped me  and this time I was back again and the volunteers including their photographer grumbling that I was greedy for pictures I tried to explain to them I did not have a card when I entered I had tears in my eyes .. and than their in house photographer shot me..

I gave Mrs Shatrughan Sinhas packet took a receipt and came out shot  Ganesh Gully Chya Raja , Tejukaya Raja took a bus and reached King Circle shot GSB Lord Ganesha , my feet burning and in bad shape..

I have just reached home now ,,,

Bandra Bazar Road Ramzan Mubarak From Those We Voted To Power

after
elections
our dreams
went sour
you got
your enviable
chair political
power on our
doomed destiny
your apathy
your neglect
you are no
more our
you who
dont face
such ignominy
you live in
ivory towers
your children
playing in parks
midst blooming
flowers our
children
have garbage
bins as their
inheritance
their worldly
bower ..
as years
turn into tears
tears into hours
on the silhouette
of my soul
a stink filth
as a poetic
thought hovers

Bala Me And Marziya Shakir at Ashirwad

My Last Farewell Message To Mr Rajesh Khanna - Goodbye Sir Came To See You With Marziya


–‘Anand mara nahi. Anand marte nahi’

Marziya Shakir 4 Year Old Shoots ,,Mr Rajesh Khanna One Last Time


Ms Dimple Kapadia wanted to meet Marziya Shakir and so we both came to the bunglow to pay our Shraddanjali this was shot before the Chautha..

Now one person who Ms Dimpleji has not met is Nerjis Asif Shakir , she came here recently and shot a few frames of the last vestige of her memories of this house Ashirwad that means a lot to both of them.. Mr Rajesh Khanna was like a huge father figure to them..

Bala is Mr Rajesh Khannas man Friday loyal trustworthy and hanging on ...

The lady is Dimplejis close confidant family friend..

Uncle Rajesh Khanna Will Miss Your Ashirwad- Marziya Shakir



woh apki
muskurahat
mera bachpana
aur ap ki yad
ek sunehra sapna
ek ruka hua lamha
aur apka mere sar
par hath apka
akhri ashirwad
nahi bhulna hame
ek akhri fariyad

This was shot at Mr Rajesh Khannas house Ashirwad , in happier days when he was alive ..

Slow Death Of Bandra Bazar Road Shot By Nerjis Asif Shakir 18 Month Old


Forget our erstwhile MP or our Respected MLA .. they are very busy people but the local Municipal Corporator of our area has not even bothered to come our end to see the state of our heritage market , the bad roads and the mess all around ,,


I voted for the Congress but this time I have decided to give some independent a chance ,, our chosen elected ones have let us down very badly and this is the testimony of a 18 month old child street photographer .

Cobbler Cobbler Mend My Shoes - Shot By Nerjis Asif Shakir Age 2

he was smiling
as he knew once
marziya her sister
shot him too
while coming from
school ..while he
was busy repairing
shoes ..but he
told me later he
found nerjis more
positive less confused
whether he was referring
to marziya or me ..
i felt amused ,...

Street Photography Is Life And Truth Shot By Nerjis Asif Shakir 2 Year Old


i know
she does
not understand
at all what i
make her shoot
but it will lie in her
head as a micro chip
for a later date when
understanding comes
en route .. so she shoots
life and lifelessness
senselessness mute
of the drunkard watched
by a lady ..destitute
a thought if you savor
an urban struggle for
survival acute ...innocence
prevails even scenes like
this her soul wont uproot

this child is far too intelligent
besides being photogenically cute

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