The Hand Matam of Chennai

The Hand Matam of Chennai, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

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Every city that mourns for Hussain during Moharam the collective Urdu term known as Azadari.. has a unique form of expressing their solidarity with the sufferings of the Imam at Karbala it is called Matam beating of the chest with one or both hands.

Shia women do hand matam in front of their House Imambadas but some women mostly the Shia Bauchis or from tribal backgrounds do it publicly as I saw in Hussaintekri Jaorah.

As I have documented Moharam in some of the major cities of India I found each city has its own hand matam form and style.

The most vicious without blades is the Hallauri Hand Matam merely the blows on the chest cut open the fkesh, such is the intensity unbelievable unimaginable during the Amary Juloos at Govandi in Athvi.

The same intensity is found among the Shias of Lucknow at Kazmain when they place the Alams to rest also during Athvi after the Chup Tazia Juloos.

The Hyderabadis Shias in Kolkatta and Chennai also beat their chests vigorously.

In Mumbai being a cauldron of Shias from every state each Anjuman has its own style but the Busheri Matam Iranian origin doing matam in a circle is the staple diet of the Imamwada Shia contingent , they are rhythmic, and each step denotes pain , intensified by the mellifluous voice of the guys who recite the Busheri matam Nohas .

The Kashmiris too are hardcore hand matam experts and they use blades between the fingers during the juloos.

The blade matam of Hyderabad and Madras stands out in its bloodiness and intensity.

The Kolkatta Shia uses the old type barbers razor blade in its modern avatar fold able and wit blades that can be changed , but some hardcore Kolkatta guys use doctors scalpel.

In certain parts of the South I have heard but not seen they do Matam with the jagged ends of broken bottles.

The kama matam is cutting the head with a dagger or a sword , long swords to cut the heads are used in Ashura during Bibi Ka Akam procession.

The Chehlum in Hyderabad the Shias cut their heads and the entire stretch is covered with ankle deep river of blood.

The Mumbai Shia is a breed apart his sword matam is the most vicious deadliest , pieces of huge chunks of flesh fly around on Ashura day at Amin Imambada or at the Rehmatabad Shis cemetery.

Some of the affluent Shias in Mumbai use the Japanese Samurai swords I dont have to describe the end result of the back.

Now comes the most important question whether this bloodletting is it justified , or is is condemnable.. I am not a religious scholar I kept away from blood was a coward till seeing little kids mocking my camera I began cutting myself too.

Whether Mullah issue edicts against zanjir zani or kamazani a single fact remains it will continue as it is being done since many years.

That the wounds heal in a day or two is not part of this discussion , over cut backs are stitched without anesthesia.

Now comes the other important part of children having their head cut by their guardians or parents it is a trend with spiritual connotations called Mannat and the sole prerogative of the parents ,I dont glorify it but yes I do shoot it , pain is the genre of my photo study I have shot goat sacrifice bull sacrifice and yes I love shooting gushing blood..

The only reality of life and the human flesh.