Marziya in Lantern Land

Marziya in Lantern Land
Originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1

In a world of loving lanterns
She flows
Marziya Shakir
Undoubtedly knows
That she is our
Hope in our garden
She grows
A little rose
Part of
Heart of
Family Firoze
A destination
Highland Court
God Chose
A clean neighborhood
A green neighborhood
Where neighbors
Don’t come to blows
Living in mutual harmony
Sparrows eagles pigeons and crows
Cats and dogs in equal repose
Friends for ever no enemies and foes

photo enhanced digitally by PPC

Maulana Yasoob Abbas at Kaiser Bagh

Maulana Yasoob Abbas at Kaiser Bagh
Originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1

Before the Majlis begins the kids decorate the alams, run helter skelter.But once Maulana Yasoob Abbas son of Maulana Athar Saab Mirza sits on the Mimber , seriousness enters the chaos..this is a short Majlis on Hazrat Qasim, before it can get over the Juloos starts its rounds , the scourgings the kama matam, begins in the centre space that soon gets totally jampacked..
Shooting all this is impossible I shot most of it from a dias behind the podium..and later jumped down to shoot from below.
I was stuck with my 80-200 Nikon lens that was not coming out of the Nikon D70 mount , so shooting the Kama Matam was a total disaster.

Kaisar Bagh Citadel of Shia Faith

Kaisar Bagh Citadel of Shia Faith
Originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1

This is at Kaisar Bagh , kids are busy decorating the Alams , some decorating the Tabooots or Relicas of the Coffins of the Imam and his male family members..there is a tiny cradle too of the Imams six month son Ali Asghar , who the Yazidi forces instead of water shot him down with the arrow, the archer being Harmullah.
This was Islam under the aegis of the Ummayad Dynasty, Arab barbarism at its heigh , human values disregarded, this was the birth of Jehadi Terrorism, means justified the ends , these were Muslims who prayed 5 times and had no qualms in killing a man while his head was in prayers..decapitating a mans head in the Mosque too was justified for political supremacu as in the case of Hazrat Ali father of Imam Hussain and cousin of the Holy Prophet and his erstwhile son in law..

The Shia Child

The Shia Child
Originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1

He is tired, he is asleep , but as soon as the Matam and the scourgings begin he will hand over his Tshirt to his guardian and begin the Zanjir Matam at Kaisar Bagh..this is the resilience of a persecuted race over the years the Shias...he will be flagellating his back to the cries of Ya Hussain Ya Hussain.. with his sharp razor like blades attached to chains..

Our Mothers Keep our Faith Alive

Our Mothers Keep our Faith Alive
Originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1

This little Shia girl child with her father sitting on a scooter and listening to Maulana Athar Saabs Majlis on the road...this is a rare Shia child quality, from a very young age they imbibe the values of their Faith and Religiosity..
And this is what a Shia mother implants in childs soul ...Ahle Bayt and Imam Hussain.. Ghame Hussain.. the Tragedy of the Imam..
Karbala Ashura the legacy of our 1400 year old pain raw and alive...

Maulana Athar Saab Mirza at Moghul Masjid

Maulana Athar Saab Mirza at Moghul Masjid
Originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1

Maulana Athar Saab Mirza is a highly respected Shia Islamic scholar , theologian and Koranic expert, his Majlis at Mogul Masjid are completely HOUSE FULL, the entire Masjid Hall, the court yard the road outside and the byl anes are jam packed seeing him recite his Majlis on close circuit TV.
Maulana Athar Saab Mirza completed 50 years reciting Majlis at the Moghul Masjid. a record of all time..

The Police Commissioner and Moharam

The Police Commissioner and Moharam
Originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1

The respected Mumbai Police Commissioner Mr DN Jadhav was a guest at the Majlis of Maulana Athar Saab at Moghul Masjid , and the Police bandobust was at its maximum, Moharam is a sensitive Muslim feast and the Mumbai Police take care to avoid any misunderstanding or ill will among the two communities the Shias and the Sunnis..Peace, Law and Order is duly mantained as the Sunnis have their waz or religious discourse.. in the same area..vested interests criminals try to disrupt the peace by instigating both the communities that in Mumbai live in mutual co existence and harmony..giving space and respect to each others views and beliefs..