The Banganga Sadhu and The Shia Pandit

The Banganga Sadhu and The Shia Pandit, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

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We are good friends I meet him every year when I come to shoot the Pitru Paksh ceremony on the banks of the Banganga water tank at Walkeshwar.

I shoot a lot of pictures but this year I shot less I was barefeet I was thirsty hungry but I ate or drank nothing almost punishing myself poetically with the passion of man on the edge.

A lot of people pandits, women who sell the ritual items all Maharashtrians knew me on the tank, and thus continues my tryst with Hope and Hindutva a message of Peace and Humanity.. tolerance mutual coexistence as Indians above all things.

Because I am not a Hindu I show you a different perspective of the poetry of religiosity and peace, through the eyes of a Muslim man..as a photographer or photo blogger.

Because I post all my stuff on the internet I am called a photo blogger ..and I dont make prints at all , I dont shoot for shooting sake I shoot to share the culture of the land of my birth its rich tapestry of rituals customs, and because people ridicule the persons or the rituals I have shoot and usually pass racist comments I have locked my comment box for good wherever I post.

The one place I was open and replied to comments was Facebook I have moved away from there given myself a long break.

I am a Shia Muslim from India and I wear saffron for 9 month the rest of the three months of Moharam I only wear black and mourn for the greatest martyr of Humanity ..Imam Hussain.

So because of my respect for Hinduism as the culture of my land my Hindu friends I shoot and share their ethos wit the rest of the world.

I dont pass adverse comments on peoples religiosity ot the choice of their religion or gender and I must confess I have the Hijra Vardan , I met a Hijra before I came to Banganga in the train , I met another one at Banganga I also met a Hijra back in the train that was bringing me home to Bandra.


And finally after I had finished shooting totally exhausted I walked from Banganga to Napean Sea Road to my Gurus house to have water and a cup of tea with him.


I had breakfast at home when I arrived at 12-30 pm.