Handi bawa

Handi bawa
Originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1

The Bawas of Mahim

The Bawas of Mahim
Originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1

Shahenshah Baba

Shahenshah Baba
Originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1

The Bawas of Mahim

The Bawas of Mahim
Originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1

This picture was shot by a Bawa , ans what it lost in focus I used a paint filter to salvage the mood at the Dhuni of Fakhruddin Shah Baba.
On my left is Murshad Baba from Rajasthan and extreme left Handi one of the heads of the Chancwalli Rafaees..

The Holy Shrine Fakhruddin Shah Baba Mahim

The Holy Shrine Fakhruddin Shah Baba Mahim
Originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1

This is the interior of the Holy Shrine as seen from the road, inside is the mausoleum..
and you can see the floral tributes to the Saint , called Chadars placed by the devotees and his loved followers.
I have just come back from shooting the sandal, it was the most astounding Rafaee procession I have ever shot in my 4 years..today was the Sandal day, 8 Jan..
These pictures I shot two days back.

Urus Fakhruddin Shah Baba 2008

Urus Fakhruddin Shah Baba 2008
Originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1

As soon as the Urus of Makhdoom Shah Baba ends , the Urus of his devoted disciple and companion Fakhruddin Shah Baba begins also at Mahim.
Makdoom Shah Baba in his life time had bestowed a boon on Fakhruddin Shah Baba , that those who wanted to visit his tomb must pay respect first to Fakhruddin Shah Baba , so all the sandal processions that came to Makhdoom Shah Baba had to circumvent through this Shrine situated on the main heavy traffic road of Mahim.
Its a small Shrine , in cramped surroundings but highly respected by the locals of the area.Its all lit up for the Urus .
The Chancawalli Rafaees also make this place their next haunt , the Holy Fire or Dhuni is set up, and Handi and Marshad Baba hold court.
Sher Ali Baba is not around for this do.
Food is cooked on the Dhuni, supervised by Barsati or Maun Baba..
Tea Sufi style with lots of butter thrown is an appetiser to the rounds of chillum, heavily laden with Bombay Black hash.The burning down of Manala village does not affect the supply of this narcotic.Most of the affluent Bawas have connections with drug suppliers so you might get a taste of Afghani too, or Peshawari weeds..
I met a Naga Sadhu who is known as Langoti Baba, from Haryana , very highly educated and who is also a Sufi.. a rare heady combination..he is a mystic and stays at Haji Malang in the caves .
Farukh Baba and Don Jaun Baba with their good looks and full open hair are the most popular rafaees , none to beat them in swordmanship skills .
Shahenshah Baba too is a master craftsman at body piercing.
So today at about 6 pm I shall leave my shop to shoot the sandal.I shot it last year too, but had to abort it as I went into a trance known as Kaif..
Had to be revived when they splashed rose water on me and Shahenshah baba uttered some Koranic verses..
I than left for home.
As the lane this procession passes by to reach Makhdoom Shah Babas Shrine and back to its place of origin is badly lit the pictures are not too appealing either.

Marziya Strikes a Pose

Marziya Strikes a Pose
Originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1

She has her mothers eyes
her fathers shakir nose
she is a camera bonding
grand child
of afshaan and firoze
the birth of a future photographer
in her glance it shows
holding her world in her
little fist as she lovingly
grows