Sunday, August 31, 2014

Akhri Salam At Chota Naksha Chennai Ashura



Zuljanah from wikipedia

Dhuljanah (Arabic: ذو الجناح‎) was the horse of Husayn ibn Ali. The original name of Dhuljanah was Murtajiz and Maymoon and the reason for it being named that way was because of its sound of neighing being sweet, furious and high making it different from other horses. It was purchased by the Prophet Muhammad from an Arab called Haris. It features prominently in the traditional narrating of the story of the Battle of Karbala and it is thought to have been a white stallion.

Legend of Dhuljanah[edit]
According to the legend, when Husayn ibn Ali was a mere child and learning to crawl, he used to go to the stable of Dhuljanah and look at it. Once the Prophet of Islam said that his grand son was curiously looking at the horse as if some mysterious conversation was taking place, so the Prophet asked the child if he wished to ride the horse and on being answered the Prophet Muhammad ordered the horse to be mounted and when Husayn ibn Ali approached the horse it amazingly lowered itself to the ground allowing the child to mount him.

The Role of Dhuljanah in the Battle of Karbala[edit]
In the battle of Karbala, Husayn ibn Ali used the horse and went to the battlefield. According to a collection of Hadith, Dhuljanah on its own killed 60 enemies of Husayn ibn Ali in the Battle of Karbala.

It is also believed that Dhuljanah wept in sorrow of Husayn ibn Ali's martyrdom, weeping a single tear.

After the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, Dhuljanah went to the camps of Zaynab bint Ali and then went to the Euphrates river never to be found again.

Present day remembrance of Dhuljanah[edit]
The practice of taking out the replica of Dhuljanah is still prevalent in processions during Muharram. Shia Muslims in countries like Pakistan, Iran, India, Bahrain and Iraq decorate a replica of Dhuljanah and take it along with them in an Azadari / Maraseem procession. This replica reminds them of the real Dhuljanah and people often feed the replica with their own hands.


My Parents Were Not Just Shias But Human Too



Shooting Moharam in a city where you have never shot Moharam before where the Shia community does not know you is pretty tough , and there must be very few among the Shias who document Shiasm as photo journalism like I do , I shoot pictures and the poetry of sadness within the pictures in a sea of black sometimes powerfully soaked with blood ,,

And censorship shooting a documentary kills the soul of photography , being a Flickr Pro Member , I have to shoot within the ambit of Flickr guidelines though I am shooting stuff that is Shia symbolism within their rituals .

And unlike others who force their religion up your throats I dont , I am not a Shia evangelist , a fact that I shoot all religion mostly Hinduism and Sufism besides Shiasm.. and it is not easy shooting Moharam in your own city where you have lived for over 59 years , being abused by hotheaded misguided Shia bullies is what we face , their over zealousness has no limit no decency and no respect for elders or seniority and so I distanced myself shooting any segment of Moharam in Mumbai save the Majilis at my house that as the patriarch of the House I have to attend ..

I have cut down on my religious photography in Mumbai , I am not young nor do I have the stamina because of my ill-health and diabetes .

And the cities I visit during Moharam Ashura mostly is for 3 or 4 days and I shoot over 2000 images on a single camera ..I spend my money my time , and I shoot as per my vision ..I cannot borrow your narrow mindedness or your eyes to shoot what I want to shoot ,, And perhaps in all humility I must be the only Shia who has documented Moharam in most major cities  and posted it online .. and I try to capture the simplicity , the austerity of Shia pain pathos as poetry.

No I dont think I will ever go to Karbala , out of due respect I have to make myself more spityually capable to visit Karbala if I did get a ticket I would certainly give it to a poor Shia who desrves the Karbala of his dreams more than me,

For the moment my Karbala is India and the rivers Ganga Yamuna and Sarswati quench my thirst for Ghame Husaain ,, my thinking may sound alien to you but than once again I use my mind without blinkers not yours ,, and I cannot change my parentage my Lucknowi upbringing my Adabb My Tehzeeb my culture and my Indianness that is certainly not Arabic by all means .
I am proud of my Hindu cultural inheritance , my roots are deep down totally desi.. my grandfather Daroga Nabban Sab was related to poet Mir Anis .

My wife comes from Iranian ancestry ,, but her mothers family were Shias from Siwan Bihar.

My father was a Moghul Pathan.. his father converted to Shiasm and we have remained Shia till date.

My brother married a cultured Hindu girl from a very noble impeccable family it was certainly no Love Jehad ,, they are happily married settled in UK.

So our parents gave us the choice to opt a path and we opted truth equality justice and all bound to Hussain as Humanity.

And my pictures reflect the Silhouette of my Soul as a Malang of Ali too..

Saturday, August 30, 2014

This Year Lalbagh Chya Raja Has Not Called Me To His Abode



So this year I wait for a miracle
that he calls me to his pandal
 it is from my old lot that his
pictures I upload his message
of hope harmony peace love
I share as his spiritual code
I have been shooting the Raja
for last ten years yet the cops
the security are hesitant to let
me in each time gives me a jolt
perhaps I should now let others
shoot the Raja I am become old
the beggar poet the barefeet
blogger out in the cold ..but
the Raja is manifested on my
Flickr photo stream behold

The Kama Matam Of The Beggar Poet Of Mumbai



This was shot on the day of Ashura at Chennai in 2010 , this is perhaps one of my most intense Moharam series , I shot on the streets till the end at 1000 Lights Mosque .

And this set would not have been possible with the help of Shias of Chennai specially Mir Meesaq and Dr Abbas .

This is documentary on Shia rituals and Shia way of Life during Moharam..

Some of the picture of kids cutting their heads has been restricted from public view but do see it if you are a Flickr member ..

About Lalbagh Chya Raja Wish Granter And The Remover Of Obstacles



from wikipedia


Lalbaugcha Raja (Marathi: लालबागचा राजा) is the most famous Sarvajanik Ganapati, [1] kept at Lalbaug, a prominent locality in Mumbai during Ganesh Chaturti festival. The idol is kept for public display for Eleven days thereafter it is immersed on the auspicious day of Anant Chaturdashi.

It is believed that this Idol of Lord Ganesha is Navsacha Ganpati (Marathi: नवसाचा गणपती) (which means the "one who fulfills all wishes") and hence over 1.5 million people visit this Ganesh Pandal daily during the 10 day Ganesha festival. [2]

Since the last few years, a few days prior to the Ganesh Chaturthi, a Mukh Darshan Ceremony (Lalbaugcha Raja's first look and photoshoot) is organized by the Lalbaug Sarvajanik Ganeshostav mandal. Last year the ceremony took place on Thursday, September 5, 2013. This unveiling of Lalbaugcha Raja is covered every year by all national and regional channels.[3]

There are two queues for taking blessings of the Lalbaugcha Raja - THE NAVSACHI LINE and MUKH DARSHANACHI LINE.

The Navsachi line is for people who want to get their wishes fulfilled. In this line you get to go on the stage and touch the feet of Lalbaugcha Raja and take his blessings so that all your wishes get fulfilled. However this line attracts huge public and it takes around 25 – 30 and sometimes up to 40 hours to get darshan in this line.

The second line in meant for Mukh darshan i.e., to get a glimpse of Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesha Idol from some distance without going onto the stage. This line also attracts huge public and it takes around 5 – 8 hours and sometimes up to 12 – 14 hours to get darshan in this line as well, especially on Weekends. [4]

In 2014, the Lalbaugcha Raja Ganpati is now in its 80th year.


The Mandal[edit]
Lalbaugcha Raja is the popular Ganesh Idol of the Lalbaugcha Raja Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal. The Mandal, formerly known as Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, Lalbaug[5] was founded in 1934 at Lalbaug Market.

History[edit]
The Mandal, formarly known as 'Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, Lalbaug' was founded in 1934,[6] because of a vow (Nav'as) for construction of the present Lalbaug Market at its existing place. The market place at Peru Chawl was shut down in 1932. Hence, the fishermen and vendors who used to sit in the open place vowed to Ganesha for permanent place for their market. With the consistent efforts and support of the then local Councillor-Late Shri. Kuwarji Jethabhai Shah, Dr. V. B. Korgaonkar, Shri. Nakhawa Kokam Mama, Bhausaheb Shinde, Dr. U. A. Rao and the local residents, the landlord Rajabai Tayyabali agreed to give a plot for construction of a market. As fulfillment of their wish, the fisherman and the traders established the Ganesh Idol on 12 September 1934. The idol was dressed in the customary fashion of fisherman. Since that day onwards, this idol of Lord Ganesh has become popular as He fulfills the wishes of devotees. The Mandal was formed in the era when the freedom struggle was at its peak.

The Shias Of Chennai A Documentary of Pain On Ashura Day At 1000 Lights Mosque




I am a photoblogger , a chronicler of my Faith and your Faith too, as God gave me a Gift I use it to showcase the diverse faith rituals customs in India. Without preachifying I become one with the Faith I shoot ..the Camera has one Religion the only Religion the Religion of Truth as Humanity .

Every man follows the religion of his birth or his choice , what maybe good for you may not be good for him , but yet as Indians we live together despite our religious identities , by hurting one mans religion you hurt the sanctity of India ..as a Mother holds everyone in the Cradle of Hope .

I am posting this Ashura series in Black and white as blood shocks and repulses so in a way I am posting a very important document of the Shia faith on the saddest day of his Life the Martyrdom Memory on 10 Ashura the Tamil Shias call it Shahadat day.

I shot this entire series including the huge procession on 7 Moharam , Ag Matam at Jigedevi Tamilnadu.

I came to Chennai without any contacts but Hussain connects and I met  Meesaq Ali his friends and above all Dr Abbas and it is because of their support , I could cover all this.
I moderated this set at Flickr you have to be a Flickr member to see it , it is restricted from public view because of graphic pictures of blood and children kamazni ,,

Here I must make a point , on Ashura day Hindu women have their new born babies marked with the dagger for good health and better future , a tiny cut is made with the dagger on the childs head.

The Shias of Chennai are very hospitable , simple folks even the richest among the Shia of Chennai is touched by the austerity humility of Hussain ..

I am revisiting and adding new thought to my archived photo set all part of a larger set Shiasm in India over 58000 images shot all over India .

I Cut My Head I Bleed



Through the history
of my race the ancestry
of my blood I curse the
progeny of Yazid ,,
father of terrorism jehadists
acts of his misdeeds at Karbala
at his court in Damascus against
Bibi Zainab the Fourth Imam
Our Holy Prophet His Message
 His Creed

Yazid the lowly serpent seed .
his scourge his killing fields
in the end it was more terrorism
bloodshed killing of Christians
Yazidis ..innocent Americans
by his satanic breed the ISIL
with the Anti Christ in the Lead
extortion blackmail crucifixions
cowardly killing rape slavery
burying women children alive
on carrion he feeds ..yes we
will be freed through our blood
our testimony our faith in ahe bayt
our message in blood you must read

yes we bleed we curse yazeed


Jiss key ragon(vein) mein aatish-e-badr o honain hai Us surman ka ism-e-girami Hussain hai.


sourced from geo cities

Who is Imam Hussain (a.s.)?

On Ashur all living creatures in this world and in all the unknown, undiscovered and hidden galaxies, mourn for Imam Hussain, the Sayid-ul-Shuhada (lord of all martyrs), Who is this Hussain? One for whom the whole world mourns. Old, young, men, women, rich and poor, wihtout any discrimination of race, color or gender, without any differentiation, all gather on one platform and mourn for Imam Hussain. Who is this Hussain (a.s.)?

Jiss key ragon(vein) mein aatish-e-badr o honain hai
Us surman ka ism-e-girami Hussain hai.

Imam Hussain (a.s.), the second child of Imam Ali (a.s.) and Janab-e-Fatimah (a.s.), was born in the year 4 AH, and after the martyrdom of his elder brother, Imam Hassan (a.s.), became his successor. Hussain was Imam for 10 years which was mostly during the reign of Muawiyah, except the last 6 month which coincided with the reign of Yazid. Imam Hussain lived under the most difficult conditions of suppression and persecution. This was due to the fact that, first of all, religious laws and regulations had lost much of their weight and credit, and the edicts of the Umayyah government had gained complete authority and power. Secondly, Muawiyah and his fans made use of every possible means to put aside the Household of prophet and to move them out of the way. Above all, Muawiyah wanted to strengthen the basis of future kingdom of his son, Yazid, who because of his lack of principles and scruples was opposed with a large group of Muslims. Therefore, in order to quell all opposition, Muawiyah had undertaken more severe means until he died in 60 AH and his son Yazid took his place.

Giving the oath of allegiance, was an old Arab practice which was carried out in important matters like governorship. Well-known people would give the oath of allegiance as a sign of agreement and obedience to their king and showing their support for his future actions. Braking the agreement after the oath of allegiance, was considered as a definite crime.

Muawiyah during his life time, had asked well-known people to give the oath of allegiance to Yazid, but did not impose this request upon Imam Hussain. He particularly told Yazid in his last will that if Imam Hussin refused to give the oath of allegiance, he should take it easy because Muawiyah knew the bad consequences of such enforcement. However because of his egoism and recklessness, Yazid neglected his father's advice, and immediately after taking over the power, ordered the governor of Medina to either take the pledge of allegiance from Imam Hussain, or send his head to Damascus.

After the governor of Medina informed this demand to him, Imam Hussain refused, and moved with his family toward Mecca. He sought refuge in the sanctuary of God in Mecca which is official place of refuge in Islam. This happened at the beginning of Shaban 60 AH. Imam Hussain stayed in Mecca for nearly four months.

This news spread throughout the Islamic world, and many people who were tired of inequalities during Muawiyah reign and were even more disturbed when Yazid took over, corresponded with Imam Hussain and expressed their sympathy for him. On the other hand, a flood of letters began to flow, specially from Iraq and particularly from the city of Kufah, inviting the Imam to go there and to build up a government. Naturally such situation was dangerous for Yazid.

The stay of Imam Hussain in Mecca continued until the season of pilgrimage when Muslims from all over the Islamic world came to Mecca to perform Hajj. The Imam realized that some of the followers of Yazid had entered Mecca as pilgrims with the mission of killing Imam during the ceremonies of Hajj with the arms they carried under the special pilgrimage dress.

In order to safeguard the great sanctuary of Mecca, Imam Hussain decided to leave for Iraq before completing the ceremony of Hajj. When he was asked the reason for the mysterious departure, Imam Hussain said that he would perform this year's pilgrimage in the desert of Karbala, offering the sacrifice of not any animals, but himself and his family and friends. Giving a short speech in the vast crowd of people, he announced that he was setting for Iraq, and said he would be martyred. He asked people to join him in attaining the goal of offering their lives in the path of God.

Imam Husain was determined not to give his allegiance to Yazid and fully knew that he would be killed. But it was not the time to save the life. That moment was the right time to water the faded lawn of Islam by his blood. Some of outstanding people of Mecca stood in the way of Imam Hussain and warned him the danger of the move he was making. But he answered that he refused to pay allegiance and to give his approval to a government of injustice and tyranny. He added that wherever he would go, he would be killed, so he would leave Mecca in order to preserve the respect for the House of God, and not to allow this respect be destroyed by letting his blood spilled there.

While on the way of Kufah, he received the striking news that under the pressure of Yazid's agents, people of Kufa did not support his representatives (Janab Muslim-bine-Aqeel) and turned back, and some of them joined the Yazid's army to kill Imam's representatives in Kufah. The city and its surroundings were under very strict marshal law by countless soldiers of enemy who where waiting to face Imam. There was no way for Imam to turn to except march ahead and face the death.

Approximately 44 miles from Kufah, in a desert called Karbala, Imam and his followers were surrounded by the army of Yazid. They cut off the water supply of the Household of Prophet and their companions and their families among them were many women and children. For eight days they stayed in that place under the heat of the sun, and the circle among them narrowed and the number of enemy's army increased by a number of 30,000 fully equipped soldiers of Yazid.

Approximately 44 miles from Kufah, in a desert called Karbala, Imam and his followers were surrounded by the army of Yazid. They cut off the water supply of the Household of Prophet and their companions and their families among them were many women and children. For eight days they stayed in that place under the burning sun, and the circle among them narrowed and the number of enemy's army increased day by day.

Once again, Imam gathered those who remained to put them on the test. He addressed his companions and Hashimite relatives, repeating that enemy was only concerned with him and they could escape the danger in the darkness of night. But this time the faithful companions answered, each in own way, that they would not deviate from the right path and would never leave him alone. They said that they would defend the Household of Prophet to the last drop of their blood as long as they could carry a sword.

The enemy intended to start the war in the eve of the ninth day of the month, but Imam asked for a delay till next morning to worship all the night for the last time.

On the tenth of Muharram of the year 61 (680) That inequitable war began. That day, they fought from morning till their final breath, and all the companions and the relatives were martyred.

When Imam himself was ready to fight, he saw his six-month-old baby is dying from thirst. Imam brought his infant to the enemy and demanded some water for baby, saying: You want me but not this baby so take him and give him some water. The words of Imam were not finished that the thirst of the baby was quenched by a deadly poisoned arrow from enemy which pinned the baby's neck to the arm of his father. Imam looked at his infant in his arms and said: "O' Lord! Your Hussain has offered whatever You have given him. Bless me by acceptance of this sacrifice." Finally Imam came to the field and fought for a long time and was finally martyred. The army of Yazid having killed Imam Hussain, cut his head and raised it on a lance.

The army of Yazid, after ending the war, burned the tents of women and children accompanying Imam and his companions, and plundered those helpless women. They decapitated the bodies of the martyrs, denuded them and threw them to the ground without burial. Then they moved women and children along with the heads of the martyrs to Kufah.

The event of Karbala, the capture of women and children of the Household of Prophet, their being taken as prisoners from town to town, and the speeches made by Janab-e-Zainab, the daughter of Ali, who was one of the prisons, became a scandal for Umayyah Kingdom. Such abuse of the Household of Prophet nullified the propaganda which Muawiyah had built up for years. The scandal reached to the extent that Yazid denounced the action of his agents in public. That was what excactly Imam Hussain wanted to do, otherwise he would not bring women and children with him and sacrifice some, and let the rest to become captives. That was the only way to make a wave in order to awaken the Muslim nation.

The event of Karbala was a major factor in the overthrow of Umayyah kingdom. Among its immediate results were the revolts and rebellions combined with bloody wars which continued for twelve years. During those riots non of the important elements in Karbala could escape revenge and punishment, including Yazid.

Some famous sayings about Imam Hussain (a.s.)

Charles Dickens had said the following about Imam Hussain (AS):

    "If Hussain fought to quench his worldly desires, then I do not understand why his sisters, wives and children accompanied him. It stands to reason therefore that he sacrificed purely for Islam."

Thomas Carlyle has relayed this about the Tragedy of Karbala:

    "The best lesson which we get from the tragedy of Karbala is that Hussain and his companions were the rigid believers of God. They illustrated that numerical superiority does not count when it comes to truth and falsehood. The victory of Hussain despite his minority marvels me!"

The famous, Dr. K. Sheldrake on Imam Hussain (AS) said this:

    "Hussain marched with his little company not to glory, not to power or wealth, but to a supreme sacrifice and every member of that gallant band, male and female, knew that the foes were implacable, were not only ready to fight but to kill. Denied even water for the children, they remained parched under a burning sun, amid scorching sands yet no one faltered for a moment and bravely faced the greatest odds without flinching."

World famous Arab historian al-Fakhri has said this about Imam Hussain's sacrifice:

    "This is a catastrophe whereof I care not to speak at length, deeming it alike too grievous and too horrible. For verily, it was a catastrophe than that which naught more shameful has happened in Islam...There happened therein such a foul slaughter as to cause man's flesh to creep with horror. And again I have dispersed with my long description because of it's notoriety, for it is the most lamented of catastrophes."

The previous four quotes have been taken from "The Martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS)"

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