Top Shots Shia Cemetery Chehlum 2010

Top Shots Shia Cemetery Chehlum 2010, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

I have never shot from this house belonging to a Shia person , but he gave me permission to come up and shoot a few frames ..

And this is a ghastly sight , the entire floor is covered with blood , and in spite of the limitation of camera flash, the dark arena appears sinister.


Everywhere people are cutting themselves with ferocity , viciously , and it is after all this ends , crowds filter out that the hardcore sword matam begins .

Shooting Rehmatabad i Chehlum is a highly challenging effort, and you normally dont get what you shoot, as someone or the other blocks your frame, there is no time for politeness or good manners , language here is minimal, just strokes and blood hitting your face and person.

You have to push hard each time they pull you away from the arena, and re renter again , and you go on shooting, documenting a moment livid in pain that lives on much after the event is over.

My lens was covered in blood , my camera dripping blood , my head a streaming fountain that would not stop, my vision blurred but I went on shooting like a mad man adding to the madness of pain around me.

My barefeet were covered in blood , my feet were festered as a few days back I had climbed the Haji Malang mountains barefeet.. and had made the return journey from the mountains bare feet too.

And this is the next lot of pictures all on a 3.50 GB card , and I share it with you, even the pictures that got messed with blood on my lens have something to say about the spiritual zeal and the angst of the Shias of Mumbai.