It all began many years back I was in a cab with my wife heading to Bandra and than I spotted a procession of Marriammen followers of Mahim , I told my wife to remain in the cab and barefeet I rushed to shoot this man with the rod in his mouth , the moment he saw me I looked an alien with a turban rings etc etc he glared at me with anger and if looks could kill I was almost dead , but I am a mystic I went on shooting till a few people asked me to leave the spot ,, this was the first time I shot this feast a few frames .
Time elapsed I was coming from an actors house at Juhu Scheme in a rickshah with my help, I left the ricksha taking my camera barefeet I followed these brave men with rods in their mouths till I reached Nehru Nagar Juhu years back and it was here I met Davendar Bhima .. who became my best friend and he took me net to Mahim Fishermens Colony , and now I dont shoot that event anymore I am not invited there , I used to be invited when Lakshmi the sister of the Ganesh Pujari used to call me personally .
I shot Sion Koliwada twice not anymore , but I met Shanmugham and Sundar from Madras Wadi and Markandeshwar Nagar ,, I have been shooting Madraswadi Marriammen feast for many years now and Sundars Markandeshwar Nagar first time this year .
This year at Madraswadi I shot a lot of videos I will upload in the night , I shot the videos on mobile phone and Canon D60.
I am not in good health so I did not shoot Shanmugham and his 5 men pulling 140 seater luxury bus with hooks in their backs ,, I shot guys hanging from cranes and the 101 rod cage with rods entering a mans body from all sides in the cage .
The most horrific was when Shanmugham was inserting a hook in a mans back and it broke I shot this on video , it was really painful pulling the hook out again , but all these Tamil guys are passionate about this feast I have documented passionately too ..that is why all the Tamil believers followers of Mother Marriammen know me very well kids women old men adults ,, they give me respect because I respect their rituals culture and Faith..
And this is the Magic of India I shoot as an Indian and nothing else ,, I become one with the people I shoot behind the cosmic camera of Hope Hindutva as a Message of Universal Peace ..And I shoot their faith as passionately I shoot my Shia Faith ,,
