A Shia Blogger at Mahim Beach Maryamma Feast 2009

A Shia Blogger at Mahim Beach Maryamma Feast 2009, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

Sairam Pierces his Cheeks

Sairam Pierces his Cheeks, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

To know Sairams story you will have to read the text on pictures shot of him last year, all I need tell you that before this begins the participant has to under go a very strict and a stringent fast, Sairam was not well, he had burning fever, and Sairam was in real bad shape, but he persisted and the 4 hour trek on bare feet from Mahim beach via Mori Road towards the starting point of the Temple must have troubled him further, his mother his best friends kept encouraging him.
Now you know why I shot a lot of footage of Sairam, why among all the participants he is my favorite.

At times I wanted to hide my tears in my hanky seeing his plight, but his spiritual conviction, as what a clean and decent quest towards karma and dharma is what this event is all about..that is why I have not cluttered my pictures with additional text.

Maryamma Feast Macchimar Colony Mahim 2009

Maryamma Feast Macchimar Colony Mahim 2009, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

I start a new series at Flickr - Maryamma Feast at Macchimar Colny also known as Fishermans Colony Mahim.24 May 2009.
I was invited here by Laxmi the sister of the High Prest of this temple.. that is worshiped by the Tamils and the local Maharashtrians too.
The rod piercing is done by the Marathi Manoos , and the guy who who pierces his back with hooks is a Marathi boy and he pulled a car..

I reached the temple and found Davendar Bhima of Nehru Nagar Juhu waiting for me, he helps in the piercing too, though much of the work is done by Raja.

From the Temple the procession moved to Mahim beachfront and the road was a burning furnace at 3.30 pm, I was barefeet, here there was a puja , the Goddess enters the body of the High priest and his brother in law.

The piercings took place and once again I captured my favorite young Sairam.., young Anamika who pierced her tongue with a Trishul..this she shall do for another 3 years , as she took a vow when her mother was seriously ill.

She too goes in a trance..

For the first time since I shot this festival , I met Hijras from Mulund, co incidentally one of them was called Anamika too.. I shot a lot of pictures of her and her friend.

From the Mahim beach the procession passed St MichaelsChurch Mahim, towards Mori Road , back to the Temple ..I was in bad shape I had shot a 4.50 GB card , I hopped in a cab reached home at 9 pm.

I did not shoot the removal of the rods or the hooks..I had missed it last year too..This time because of some road work at the main Mahim road they had to take a very long route..even the participants were having a bad time..

In the picture on the left Davendar Bhima, the High Priest of the Maryamma Temple and me in my bald avatar..

Marziya Cyber Kid

Marziya Cyber Kid, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

on her fathers lap top
her fingers just wont skid
google searching
for peace
with hate
on a take over bid
together a common enemy
from a sucked system
we have to rid
hope and harmony
no more hate
god forbid
a new world is possible
the unborn child said it


to da vinca

Remembering the Old Days

Remembering the Old Days, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

sadness
written all over his face
his best friends gone
remembering the old days
when hindu muslim christian
where born of one race
respecting the earth
as a holy place
sharing and caring
for each other
respecting each others
religious space
a freedom struggle
their ancestry trace
yes it was India
as their motherland
they did embrace
two nation theory
that created a wall
a cultural disgrace
humanity
the core ingredient
you cannot replace

dedicated to my friend dacapus

The Hapless Coin/ Tattooed Hate in Muslim Society

The Hapless Coin/ Tattooed Hate in Muslim Society, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

I placed a coin on his palm and began taking shots..now strangely he appears as a Muslim, he may not be one, he has a tattoo on his forearm, I did not read what it says..but would anyone beat him and take him to the cops, this is the problem with overzealous Muslims who take law in their hands beat up a Pakistani girl for having words written in Arabic on her back..Religiously maybe she was wrong according to these neo Mumbai Talibans but beating her or trying to impose their will on her through a mob is uncalled for and they should be arrested and thrown in the lock up.

And the Mumbai cops buckling against a venomous group shows law and order in poor light specially in Mumbai..

The Pakistani girl was a soft target and it has hurt all of us ..the buck stops at the Police Station and shows the travesty of our street justice and our hospitality..and our treatment to women folk in general..

And the son of a bitch who reads a woman's back...is really shameful.

78000 Photo Blogs in 24 Months at Flickr

78000 Photo Blogs in 24 Months at Flickr, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

78,009 items / 401,142 views

I complete 78000 photo blogs at Flickr in 24 months .

Thanks to all of you for making this happen

At Blogspot Word Verification would have vandalized my multi colored ass as Positive Spam..