Thursday, July 3, 2014

The Muslim Street Barber ..Of Bandra Bazar Road



There are few quintessential barbers at Bandra Bazar , they have a fixed client base , among the shopkeepers and local residents , they have been cutting hair since a very long time , most of them dont go to salons but patronize these barbers .
Despite they being Muslims , they serve all communities and this particular barber offers his experienced service at Pitru Paksha too . They are cheap, honest and humble.

Than there is another set of barbers who sit at Lal Mitti Bandra Reclamation , they offer their services to rickshah drivers and locals from the nearby slums.


My fascination for shooting street barbers is deep, I have shot these professionals in Indian villages cities and towns .

I have shot them near Dargahs, and temples too,

The Mumndan ceremony of the childs first hair cut is very important in some communities , specially Hindus , almost like a birthday party new clothes are made , puja and elaborate offerings of the hair of the child to the deity they worship,

The street barbers are called Hajams , in small villages they are called Naie .. once this profession was treated among the lowest of the low like cobblers , etc.

This information is for my foreign friends who are as facinated wth the strokes of the barber as I am , barbers are creative artists , holistic healers and barbers also perform
Khatna .. circumcision to the new born child among Muslims.

Holding the childs pecker in their hands they divert his attention by making him look upwards than with a deft cut they say ..Lo Chidiya Ud Gayi.. this is an important barber service.

The village barber clips nails , shave armpit hair too.


I am on Flickr Instagram You Tube