The Hazri Or The Possessed Souls of Hussain Tekri Jaora

The Hazri Or The Possessed Souls of Hussain Tekri Jaora, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

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Possession is a common malady in rural India and in city slums too, and when such a malady takes place than the possessed persons family normally seek advice from Bengali Bawas or visit Dargahs and places such as Hussain Tekri or Meera Datar Unjha Gujrat.

Here in local parlance possession by the evil spirit or demon is known as Hajri or Hazri.

Its a dreadfully painful sight and I have shot this intensely , extensively, as I have undergone this vicious cycle personally , my mother took me to a lot of Shamans, Bawas as I was an alcoholic and everywhere she took me it was the usual story of pain humiliation and degradation..

I was the eldest son the bread winner after my dad and my parents had great hopes on me , my alcoholism did not abate I was dead drunk when my dad died even at the Name Janaza.

My mothers death I was sober but it did not last long, even after marriage my boozing plagued me, my wife too prayed but being a hardcore Shia kept away from Sufi dargahs shamans etc..

I too was in a state of morbidity tried to kill myself severa times jumped from a building lit myself with kerosene cut my wrists but survived each time..

Finally I gave up booze drugs cigarettes I dont know how , and took up photography as another form of intoxication,i have not touched booze since 1998 call it will power or my karmic fate.

I lived with Naga Sadhus Aghoris Hijras Rafaees Malangs and Mastans, but Peersaab Fakhru Miya of Hujra no6 Ajmer Sharif helped me in this struggle exorcised my demons.

My Naga Sadhu Guru Shri Vijay Giri Maharaj also helped and my religiosity my faith always remained intact.

So I shoot these possessed people as I know their pain , and it is tough breaking these chains , and only the family makes it possible to gain the ultimate freedom from this accursed situation , good friends too.

This is known as holistic healing and walking a tight rope of fear of not falling back in the hell hole again.. it is only a whisker away.

The Signature Collection of Humanity Shot By a Photo Blogger

The Signature Collection of Humanity Shot By a Photo Blogger, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

The Hijra at Hussain Tekri Jaora

The Hijra at Hussain Tekri Jaora, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

I knew I would meet one of them , and I did finally , she was with her daughter ., our eyes met, we shared the eternity of human pain ,she was chained to her androgynous kama and me to my cosmic fate as a Shia Hindu from Mumbai.

We did not talk at all...there was no need as silence of this sort is more eloquent than speech, every community loves Hussain , and Hussain Tekri is the symbol of this love bound in peace and humanity.

Chehlum Juloos Streets of Hussain Tekri Jaora 2011

Chehlum Juloos Streets of Hussain Tekri Jaora 2011, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

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This juloos starts in the afternoon from Azhakhana Zehra and winds its way to the Roza of Hazrat Abbas and Bibi Sakina at Hussain Tekri Jaora.. the hardcore zanzir and kama matam takes place in both the rozas.

Both the rozas the walls the surrounding areas are covered with hordes of pilgrims, I shot the Kashmiri Shias as they scourged ther backs, cut their chests with blades and used a doctors needle to pierce their heads , the intensity of their matam and mourning for Hazrat Imam Hussain is unbelievable, the ferocity of their zanjir blades, all this worked me up, placing my bag and camera around my neck, I borrowed a dagger and began cutting my head a form I call Dance of Death Tandav on the soul of Shimr..

My bleeding just would not stop and my camera was a bloody mess , after my matam I continued shooting this event and left later after a wash to catch the Jaipur Mumbai express for my home town..Amchi Mumbai with Ali Shah and a few Irani friends.

As the Hussain Tekri Chehlum takes a day in advance I was able to shoot the Mumbai Chehlum the next day on my arrival in Mumbai.

Mumbai Chehlum is of to diverse segments the juloos on the streets and hardcore zanjir kama and sword matam within the walls of the Shia cemetery Rehamatabad , this is a virtual war zone and blood bath.

The Poetry Of Pain Is Written In Blood

The Poetry Of Pain Is Written In Blood, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

Ghame Hussain A Bleeding Saga of Shia Pain

Ghame Hussain A Bleeding Saga of Shia Pain, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

Ghame Hussain A Bleeding Saga of Shia Pain

Ghame Hussain A Bleeding Saga of Shia Pain, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.