Ashura 2011 And Kama Matam of the Barefeet Blogger of Mumbai, a photo by firoze shakir photographerno1 on Flickr.
I shot 9 Moharam at Byculla station along with Dr Glenn Losack MD and my Danish friends Kim and Viola , when Glenn left I bought Kim and Viola to Savoy and barefeet they shot Moharam with me ,.. I am humbled by their love of documenting every cultural aspect of India including the Shia ethos.
They were to leave India go back to Denmark, and they have sold their house car to makes this India trip of 3 months..they met me through Flickr.com because they wanted to shoot the hijras the transgender .. that was their main story, we connected I took them around showed them the Eid e Ghadeer juloos at Kaisar Bagh Dongri and they decided they will not go back to Denmark but stay back to shoot Ashura in Mumbai..and meet a crazy New York photographer Dr Glenn Losack MD who was coming down to document and shoot Ashura ..He is my 4 year old grand daughter , worlds youngest street photographers Marziya Shakirs Guru..and now guru of Nerjis Asif Shakir 4 month old..
Kim Viola shot Kaisar Bagh for all days save 9 Moharam.. very brave couple and lovers of India..
We shot Amin Imambada Ashura morning Habib Nassers ferocious sword matam..
And than the stitching up of his wounds at Habib Hospital.
We came back to shoot the Ashura juloos that begins from Moghul Masjid , I shot Ali Shahs zanjir matam, and this caused a long delay , for my own kama matam, I could not find Habibs anjuman where I normally cut my head and so I came on the Mazgaon bridge , I handed my camera to Viola and my knapsack to Kim , I took a dagger leaping in the air I did my Tandav on the soul of Shimr the Dance of Death of a Dam Madar Malang..
The guys held my hand Viola shot the pictures and I continued bleeding , shooting ,I cleaned my deep wound on the head at Karim Bagh a camp held by the Prince Agha Khan hospital docs, at the gates of the cemetery Kim and Viola took my leave.. I entered within and shot the Shame Gariba and the cutting hardcore matam within.,..
I reached home downloaded the pictures fell asleep.. so I shall upload 9 Moharam after I complete the Ashura in Mumbai, this is a long set..
Every Land is Karbala Every Day is Ashura
