Today was my first fast of Ramadhan, I was awake all night yesterday ,. as Ramzan is a moment with its own uniqueness..I had spoken to Raju Langewal the Pandal committee member, that I wanted to shoot the Raja , he told me to come by 12 pm...today.
So barefeet I hopped into a cab and reached the pandal at Lalbagh , I was carrying my Bandra Samachar Press Card too..
I shot the Raja extensively , my efforts to shoot on the stage were unfulfilled..but I will some day.
Lalbagh Cha Raja for the Hindus and Ramzan for the Muslims as a Mumbaikar are two heartbeats of a single heart.
The Raja touches everyone, there were Sikhs , Parsis Gujratis all standing for hours in the queues , some had stood all night, some had walked from the suburbs barefeet..but the most enduring were the kids with excitement and smiles on their faces and senior citizens too..
And it had rained generously , but the rains did not dampen the spirits of the lovers of Lalbagh Cha Raja..He is the Ultimate , he is Lord who removes Obstacles , He removes Ignorance , he is the Lord of Sweet Success and Poetic Prosperity.
I have just broken my fast as I write this ..I came home not before shooting Ganesh Gully ka Raja and the Tejukaya Ganesha, also sharing space with Lalbagh Cha Raja within walking distance from each other.
On my way towards Dadar TT..I saw the Dharavi ka Raja patronized by the Tamil migrants of Mumbai, going on a bullock cart , he had already gone a long distant , I jumped out of my cab and ran after him, I shot pictures of him..
So this is my tribute as a blogger to those who cant make it to the Pandal for some reason or the other , they can have a darshan through my pictures shot with a passion and devotion bound to humility.
I also remember my photo guru Prof BW Jatkar who passed away recently ..I hope Lalbagh Cha Raja grants his soul eternal peace ..the Professor was a devotee of the Raja.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
The Magic Touch of Lalbagh Cha Raja
Ramadhan and the Awakeners
These are mendicants who appear during Ramzan walking up people in time for the Roza or Fast.. without them life would be unexciting..this is the first time I have paid this community a heartfelt tribute for their selfless work and zeal,,
Chand Rat Mubarak..
Chand Rat Mubarak
chand rat
mubarak
ibadat kar
roza rakh
ganda mut bak
allah hi sab
se bada good luck
ali haq
marte dum tak
throught
good intentions
good work
dont shirk
hume
aur tume
insaniyat
aur koie nahi fark
in a world of hate
dont get stuck
kadam sambhal
kar rakh
beshak
yahan
se akhrat tak
Searching for Peace This Ramadhan
89,709 items / 543,288 views
for the bombs , the killings
the mayhem perpetrated
by those Muslims in name
we humanity loving Muslims
all over the world take blame
a disgrace the tenets of Islam
these fanatics shame
with their hate
it is good Muslims
like us they frame
Muslims and Muslims
all are mot same
the good the bad the ugly
within a frame
why cant we live peacefully
with the rest of the world
self same
why is terrorist attached
to our surname
our religion from the hands
of hate filled rogue mullahs
mercenaries we must reclaim
for the sake of the unborn
Muslim child fires
of hatred we must tame
any religion
that kills
I disclaim
Hussain is Humanity
a thought proclaim
Allah the Holy Messenger
The Holy Book
The Ahle Bayt
we claim
searching for
Peace this Ramadhan
in a world aflame
Lord Ganesha at Shaheen Building Bandra
The formal inauguration will be tomorrow..and in a few hours I begin my first fast of the Holy month of Ramadhan..dogs are barking outside awaiting the Awakeners who will come to wake you up for the fast with sing song words..
Tomorrow the loudspeakers will begin in hymns to Lord Ganesha..
Ganesh Chaturthi
Main article: Ganesh Chaturthi
An annual festival honours Ganesha for ten days, starting on Ganesh Chaturthi, which typically falls in late August or early September.[129] The festival culminates on the day of Ananta Chaturdashi, when images (murtis) of Ganesha are immersed in the most convenient body of water.[130] In 1893, Lokmanya Tilak transformed this annual Ganesha festival from private family celebrations into a grand public event.[131] He did so "to bridge the gap between the Brahmins and the non-Brahmins and find an appropriate context in which to build a new grassroots unity between them" in his nationalistic strivings against the British in Maharashtra.[132] Because of Ganesha's wide appeal as "the god for Everyman", Tilak chose him as a rallying point for Indian protest against British rule.[133] Tilak was the first to install large public images of Ganesha in pavilions, and he established the practice of submerging all the public images on the tenth day.[134] Today, Hindus across India celebrate the Ganapati festival with great fervour, though it is most popular in the state of Maharashtra.[135][136] The festival also assumes huge proportions in Mumbai and in the surrounding belt of Ashtavinayaka temples.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganesha
Ganesh Mantras
www.ganesh.us/mantara/lord-ganesh-mantra.html
Ganesha mantras are siddhi mantras . Each mantra contains certain specific powers of Lord Ganesha. When chanted with the proper pranayama (rhythmic breathing) and sincere devotion, they will yield good results. In general, Ganesha mantras will ward off all evil and bless the devotee with abundance, prudence and success. Evil spirits dare not enter the home or the mind of the devotee where Ganesha mantras are recited. Those so mystically inclined and knowledgeable of the seven chakras below the muladhara use these powerful incantantions under the direction of the guru to close off these regions of the mind one by one and free consciousness from deep depression, confusion, jealousy, rage, lingering anger and fear. Some such mantras are given below for the spiritual benefit of the readers.
Important Note :
One more point to remember is that one should bathe or wash the limbs before sitting for repetition of the mantra. Also, one should do three or more pranayama before beginning the mantra. The minimum repetition of the mantra should be one full mala, or 108 times. When this is done at a fixed hour and place regularly for 48 days, it becomes an upasana, which means intense meditation, that will yield siddhis, or spiritual powers. Another warning to bear in mind is that one should use those powers only for healing the sick and other such selfless actions for the benefit of mankind. These powers should not be misused. Misuse of power may bring the curse of the asuras.
(1)
One always starts any prayer, ritual and/or occasion by worshipping our Beloved Elephant God. One of the famous mantras dedicated to Ganpati follows:
"Vakratunda Mahaakaaya Suryakotee Sama Prabha
Nirvighnam kuru mey Deva, Sarva kaaryeshu Sarvadaa"
Vakratunda
curved trunk
Mahakaaya
large bodied
Surya kotee
million suns
Sama Prabha
with the brilliance of
Nirvighnam
free of obstacles
Kuru
make
mey
my
Deva
Lord
Sarva Kaaryeshu
in all work
Sarvada
always
O Lord Ganesha of Large body, curved trunk, with the brilliance of a million suns, please make all my work free of obstacles, always.
(2)
"Aum gam ganapataye namah"
This is a mantra from Ganapati Upanishad. One may always use it before beginning a journey, a new course in school, new career or job, or before entering into any new contract or business so that impediments are removed and your endeavor may be crowned with success.
(3)
Aum shri ganeshaya namah
This mantra is usually taught to children for their good education. It increases their memory power, and they become successful in their examinations. Of course, people of any age may use this mantra when taking courses in a school or university, and for success in attaining their degree.
(4)
Aum vakratundaya hum
This is a very powerful mantra, as discussed in the Ganesha Purana. When something is not working properly, individually or universally, nationally or internationally, or when the minds of the people turn crooked, negative, depressed or discouraged, the attention of Ganesha may be drawn by this mantra to straighten their ways. The HUM symbolizes "Delay no more, my Lord, in straightening the paths of the crooked-minded ones." This mantra is used many times in the Ganesha Purana to curb the atrocities of cruel demons. In addition, this mantra could also be used for healing any spinal deficiency, such as curvature of the spine or curved limbs. Dedicate 1,008 repetitions of this holy word to straighten and heal such deficiencies.
(5)
Aum kshipra prasadaya namah
Kshipra means instantaneous. If some danger or negative energy is coming your way and you don't know how to get rid of that trouble, with true devotion, practice this mantra for quick blessing and purification of one's aura.
(6)
Aum shrim hrim klim glaum gam
ganapataye vara varada sarva
janamme vashamanaya svaha
There are several bija (seed) mantras in this mantra . Among other things, it signals, "Shower Your blessings, O Lord. I offer my ego as an oblation."
(7)
Aum sumukhaya namah
This mantra has a lot of meaning, but to make it simple, it means you will be always very beautiful in soul, in spirit, in face, everything. By meditating on this mantra, very pleasing manners and a beauty comes on you. Along with that comes peace, which constantly dances in your eyes; and the words you speak are all filled with that power of love.
(8)
Aum ekadantaya namah
Ekadanta refers to one tusk in the elephant face, which means God broke the duality and made you to have a one-pointed mind. Whoever has that oneness of mind and single-minded devotion will achieve everything.
(9)
Aum kapilaya namah
Kapila (red) means that you are able to give color therapy. You are able to create colors around yourself and around others, bathe them in that color and heal them. As per the mantra you create, so will you create the colors. Another meaning is "wish cow," the "cow of plenty." It means that whatever you wish, that comes true. There is a wish-cow inside you. Whatever you wish, especially for healing others, comes true immediately.
(10)
Aum gajakarnikaya namah
The ears of Ganesha, the elephant, are constant fanning, which means people may talk a lot, but you are not receiving inside anything other than that which is important. It also means that you can sit anywhere and tune this cosmic television (the body) with seven channels (chakras) and all 72,000 nadis, to any loka and be able to hear ancestors, angels, the voice of God or the voice of prophets. That kind of inner ear you will develop through this mantra.
(11)
Aum lambodaraya namah
This means you feel that you are this universe. It means that all the universes are within you. Like an entire tree is in the seed, the whole universe is in the sound of creation, which is Aum, and that Aum consciousness in you makes you feel that you are the universe. Therefore, if you say, realizing the oneness with the universe, "shanti to the world" every day, then the grace of God will come and there will be world peace, universal peace. It is the universes within Aum and Aum within you.
(12)
Aum vikataya namah
This means realizing this world as a dream or a drama. When you are in that high consciousness, this whole world looks like a dream. All of us have taken a role. We have to play our role in life as wife or husband or children or citizens, all consistent with the role we have taken. When an actor bitten by a sponge cobra that is brought on the stage falls, the entire audience cries; but that boy who has fallen knows it was not a real cobra and he is not dead. Life is a drama -- definitely life in this material world, this physical world of ego, is a drama. But inside, like the boy on the stage who is quite happy knowing that he didn't die by the bite of the sponge cobra, like that, the truth never dies in us; it is immortal. So everything else you consider as drama. That consciousness comes to you by knowing this mantra.
(13)
Aum vighna nashanaya namah
This mantra invokes the Lord Ganesha to remove every impediment in your life and in your works. By constant meditation on this mantra, all obstacles and blocked energy in your physical and astral bodies are released.
(14)
Aum vinayakaya namah
Vinayaka is the name of Ganesha in the golden age. So by realizing this mantra, your life will have a golden age. In your office, in your work, you'll be the boss. Vinayaka means something under control. Vinayaka means the Lord of problems.
(15)
Aum ganadhyakshaya namah
This mantra is so important. Suppose you have a group, a country, neighbors, or any kind of group therapy, group healing or a whole country needing healing, then you have to bring that entire group to your mind's arena and say this mantra. A group healing takes place by this mantra.
(16)
Aum bhalachandraya namah
In Sanskrit, bhala means the forehead center. Chandra means the crescent moon. Bhalachandra means that chakra from where the nectar drips. That is the secret of all healing. It is to feel yourself as Siva, identifying yourself with the Truth and feeling constantly that you are carrying the crescent moon, the symbol of growth and nectar and peace.
(17)
Gaṇeśadhyānam
I bow to Gajānana, Whose lotus-feet destroy the obstacles, Who is served by the Gaṇa of Śiva, Who eats delicious rose-apple and mangoes, Who is the son of Umā (Pārvatī), and Who is the destroyer of grief and obstacles.||1||
Lord Ganesha Arrives at Bandra
I am at home and a few minutes back, there was huge beats of drum, I looked out of my balcony and saw Lord Ganesha making his way to the Shaheen Building Pandal Bandra I rushed down to shoot a few frames and share with you all the magic of mutual coexistence in India..
The Hindu brethren bring in Ganesh Chaturthi and we will keep our first fast of Ramadhan in a few hours.
It is already 2.50 am Mumbai time.
I wish all you guys a Happy Ramadhan Mubarak and Happy Ganesh Chaturthi.. Live and let others live ..
This digital card was in my camera 2.80 GB I had shot a lot of stuff since 15 August ..only my Gay Parade was shot on a different card.The Gay Parade 2009 I shall again keep on hold..
I now start a new set at Flickr the Ganesh Pandals 2009 ..this continues as my series Hope and Hindutva a message of Peace..
Born Gay - Scrap Article 377
89,619 items / 542,929 views
guys as guys
love to play
guys as gay guys
without disguise
are here to stay
you can have it
either way
before
or after
a foreplay
guys who
were born as gay
alternate sexuality
caught midway
cross dressing
the soul in crochet
holding hands
jazz by the bay
same sex love
no more cliche
article 377
scrap
don't
delay
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Shah-e-Mardan Sher-e-Yazdan Quwat-e-Parwardigar Lafata Ila Ali La Saif Ila Zulfiqar , originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1 ....
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Dargah of Hazrat Syed Ali Mira Datar Unava Gujrat , a photo by firoze shakir photographerno1 on Flickr. HAZRAT SYED ALI MIRA DATAR'S G...
