The Sword Matam of Mumbai

The Sword Matam of Mumbai, a photo by firoze shakir photographerno1 on Flickr.

Matam is infliction of pain.
The sword matam is done in Iraq, in Mumbai it is done with a finesse , during Ashura at Imamambada Amin, the sowrd matam requires technique of wielding the sword right, this is not a flagellating blade, here at Amin there are veterans like Baqar that with a single slash requires 72 stitches, the flesh falls out of the body like minced pieces of mutton..
But on Chehlum , an Iranian gentleman brings 3 swords , originally tempered steel from Mashad Iran.
About 4 people use it, a senior Khoja Shia Mr Bundeally, Kassim Hallori, the Iranian kid in the earlier picture of this lot.
I was a newbie, but I gave it a go..criss crossed on my pictorial back are lines artistically drawn , a calligraphy of Pain.. a single name Ya Hussain..