Friday, August 27, 2010
Mr Khatu's Ganesha Workshop Chinchpokli
Mr Khatu has a huge Ganesha workshop at the end of Ganesh Gully closer to Chinchpokli and I have been a regular visitor here both for the Ganesha and also the Durga festivals his idols are huge larger than life and photographing all this here gives me a poetic joy.
This time he is sculpting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on a horse and I took several pictures most of his workers know me but his main guy Rane had to be coaxed as he was shy did not want his picture taken.
From here I came to the Lal Bagh Cha Rja pandal beig constructed and shot the Hanuman Mandir and met my good friend Raju Langewal .once treasurer of the pandal and karyakarta.highly connected to actors in Bollwood.
Marziya Takes The Blessings of a Grand Old Lady of Bandra
Marziya Takes The Blessings of a Grand Old Lady of Bandra, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.
She waits outside politicians offices for better living conditions and a quality of life I asked her why she said without uttering a single word by blessing Marziya.
And she is right the Muslim girl child of Marziyas age from poor families need hope and succor and this old lady is fighting for their rights in her own unique way.
And this image made my eyes moist for reasons more than one.
And I dont know if images in newspapers really make you cry in all humility and gratitude without taking anything away from what they shoot mechanically giving a fodder day in and day out without a break.
This is dedicated to the selfless service of photo journalists ...without bitterness or cheek n jowl satire.
The Awakeners Ramzan Time
These are guys who wake you up in the mornings to begin your fast , on Thursdays they come for the baksheesh for the selfless service they hounded by stray dogs in the areas they visit abused by people sleeping drunk on the roads.
This is a real tough job and they are fasting too.
Man is an Animal in a Zoo
139,563 items / 1,080,292 views
this specimen
is more fucked than you
outside his cage
there is no crowds
no children women
or men they all
withdrew
as the next cage
has a Bollywood
Actor and an Actress
signing autographs
as you feed them
with peanuts too
the hottest couple
in the human zoo
the cage next to them
has a pack of politicians
like deers black bucks on view
they are having trouble
with the paper money
they chew all over
the cage their
destiny finally screwed
the cage after this cage
has cops bureaucrats
a few fat pan chewing babus
the cage at the other end
has religious folks wearing
saffron , green whites
even the color blue
giving sermons
dividing the world
into a testament old and new
in an open area in the zoo
with their legs chained
like white elephants
camels are the media barons
the hot shot media journalists
news photographers
a peepli live member
as they interview
Midas Amir Khan standing
a distance away
from the untouchable Ramu
so this picture was only a picture
till it became a poem
giving a fucked street blogger
his due unpublished to rue
finally the last cage has
authors poets artists
beggars whores pimps
all in one anda like
cell like cage
twiddling their thumbs
as they have nothing to do
unscripted sorrow a heady brew
the film critic is the only member free
in this zoo making fat bucks
giving stars on loan
hire purchase for every kindly
weekly review
the terrorist cage has lawyers
judges jury a system quarantined
as they have been infected
by malaria dengue typhoid jaundice
swine flu without beds dazed
lying on the floor a motley crew
from a street thought in the head
of this cosmic poet a poem grew
the cage for bloggers is under construction
as the zoo authorities are confused
whether this specie is really human
or just muslim chriistian dalit or hindu
black white colored hue barefeet
bare assed figuratively bestrewed
sartorial serendipity in 3Dglasses
seen as nude the hijras gays transgeder
she males lady boys in this zoo
they do not include
the authorities are strictly homophobic
truthful about the rest of society without
being callous or rude
Waiting Endlessly For A Hospital Bed
139,563 items / 1,080,290 views
This is a patient half in half out on the streets outside the local Municipal hospital packed within like a new film released on a Friday.
He will lie like this till his turn comes to prolong his life or to die.
This is the anonymous tale of the common man on the street, and honestly only me and my camera shoot pictures like this and the dead soul of the city that says let sleeping dogs lie..
This is bang opposite the bungalows of top Mumbai Police senior officers stay, and the cop outside the gate asked me why I was shooting him , I did not tell him anything just moved away.
And this is what I show my two and a half year old grand daughter and she learns the story of man from the pictures I shoot ..this is theory of street photography of the dead soul of our city.
For all you know it could be me lying out there and a two and a half year old chlid shooting me as she walked from her school to home with her crazy grand father ..and a school bag on her back where the books of the lessons of life will never be found..
And our knowledge is based on books books that the child will never read when he or she grows up , the knowledge of the olden days at the feet of the Guru under the banyan tree is only a myth .
Education , like Justice like Medicine is all about big bucks you have you enjoy or otherwise you flow with your fucked karma as they say.
Because you pay heavily to become a cop you swindle you cheat you rob to hit back at a system that will never change.. if Corruption goes away the newspapers will go bust.
CWG could also mean Corrupted With Gratitude a way of Life and the Master Game of Life... a Path of instant success and wealth after the Games no one will remember politics is what will eventually destroy Mankind with the help of a hand maiden called Religion.
These are my personal views as I become older walking the streets with a camera like a whore and capturing moments of the fall and the indignity of Man.
He waits for Death whether he lies on the streets and if he does get the hospital bed he will already be dead..Man is a name or nameless on the street till they give him a number duly tag him and send him as a corpse to a stench filled morgue ...to be buried or cremated depending on the foreskin of his fucked fate .
Shooting the Dead Soul of a City
139,563 items / 1,080,278 views
He could be lying like this and he could even be dead but not a single soul will bother about him , because nobody has time on the streets , he is only a few minutes away from the cops station.and the cops too are busy with their own agenda of work.
He is a new member who is part of the Bandra Hill road dregs society and he is a chronic alcoholic, the money he gets throw at him , he utilizes for drinking..mixing rain water to dilute his country hooch and in the long run it is this man who will buy his country liquor from bars and pubs when the new policy of making country liquor freely available at all bars and pubs comes into force ,making money is the mantra of modern governments at all costs.
But the people who pass him by dont know he is a drunkard only I do and the few shop keepers on this road and the shop that sells him the booze.
I have never talked t him though he sees me from the corner of the eye at first I thought he was a beggar and made Marziya give him alms.
And I am onto my next fast of Ramzan and cant believe we are a fortnight away from Idd ,,,
The Power of The Ganesh Mantra
http://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||
But is a good blogger, necessary a good writer, too...? ;-) Shrinath Vashista
But is a good blogger, necessary a good writer, too...? ;-) Shrinath Vashista, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.
a good blogger
with or without words
or only 5 words in a sling
hits at the gargantuan giant
of a Goliath a bogey
called the media
when stirred
in a soulful silence
equivocally he is heard
all over the internet
if duly tagged
smilingly revered
through Google Search
not once not twice
but a million times
rediscovered
being a good writer
is your good luck
word to word
you can blog single
handed or be part
of a cybernetic herd
even if wings are
made of paper
on the soul
of your conviction
you could fly like a bird
to Shrinath Vashista My Indi Blogger Facebook friend from Port Blair
A Blog is Walking Backwards in Time and Space
A Blog is Walking Backwards in Time and Space, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.
139,485 items / 1,080,016 views
My computer is down , totally gone for a toss and I am using my sons spare laptop, I have been away from home since noon.
I was in town I had gone to visit Mr Mukesh Parpiani curator of Piramal Art Gallery at the NCPA.
for some personal work.
Of late I travel by buses and some pictures I shot on the streets were specially laid out by the Lord for me..and for me street photography is the essence of the creative juices of my angst as a photo blogger .
I walked a lot I was fasting too so I have sprained my ankle I returned to my workplace by train and broke my fast with the Iftar tray sent to me by the Diamond compound guys of Bandra Hill Road.
And today Marziya shot her Uncle Assad tilting the camera like a Pro , pictures of Marziya are part of her set of Marziya Shoots on Nikon D 80..
My younger son has bandaged my sprained leg but I shall be on my feet tomorrow morning though with a slight limp..
My uploading at Flickr has been irrational frenetic I dont know why I disabled the Firefox too,,
And now the only two things media guys love to shoot are the fogging machines guys and the Ganesha workshops and the editor has told them too shoot at least a few potholes too..and the person that has become the talk of placing potholes on the silver screen of her life is Ms Ekta Kapoor..
Potholes in Mumbai is the latest trend on Twitter all famous designers are using potholes as the next in thing for their Spring Summer collection, jewelery designers and we have so many of them are are going overboard with pothole earnings pendants etc,..
The artists the ones who use easel and paint are giving a new dimension to potholes and some potholes are being placed at our city museums I have yet to write a poem on potholes ,,
The buzzword is potholes Mumbai competing with two othe buzzwords with powerful impact CWG games and corruption...
And the best read was the front page by Mr Premjee of Wipro abut his take of the CWG and he was ruthlessly truthful in his observations I salute him.. being the common man that I am like Sachin Tichkule..
And Mr Akshay Kumar destroying a fans camera was in real poor taste , a fan treats you like God so he shoots you and some tolerance and human understanding and anger management was required ..and I know that Mr Akshay Kumar is a thorough gentleman so this aberration should be avoided he should buy his fan the latest Blackberry and gift it to him.. to make amends.
If Mr Akshay Kumar had destroyed a media photographers camera I would have not felt that bad ,, the media guys need vision more than old ghisa pita cameras ,,I truthfully dont know if their cameras are insured but their pictures are I am told.
So I continue with my Ganesha pictures shot at Lal bagh in every possible angle posture and perspective.. as a photo blogger and a photo guru of a two and a half year old child who shoots humanity with the same camera same fu****d Stops that I shoot with...The Nikon D 80
The Motherhood of Pain
139,484 items / 1,079,963 views
the child
for sustenance
cries like aways
the mothers stomach
burns like a furnace
out of place
motherhood of pain
on the streets in a daze
ramzan time
hunger and roza
face to face
to end her misery
to god she prays
a karmic sorrow
of her woe begotten
doomed destiny
she must embrace
like a cattle
a commodity
to be use abused
slaughtered
in any case
another woman
will come take her place
long live triple talaq
tears on the soul
of a poor muslim
womans face
when she was born
she ha already lost the race
a jehad misplaced
martyrdom of womanhood
to use another phrase
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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...
