14 Stations Of The Cross Mumbai 2009

14 Stations Of The Cross Mumbai 2009, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

This morning I was late so I missed the events at Sacred Heart Church Khar W from where the Good Friday or the 14 Stations of the Cross begin,.

"The 21 st Annual Lenten Walking Pilgrimage set off through Golibar subway, into Santa Cruz East,across the highway , past St Anthonys Church upto KalinA and back to St Charles Convent in Vakola 3.30pm.

The pilgrims stopped at different spots along the way, near street crosses or chapels and a troupe enacted the different Stations of the Cross.

These are Biblical scenes with characters enacting the happenings of over 2000 years., when Christ was crucified .

Various scenes from the passion play, crucifixion,and even the resurrection of Jesus Christ were dramatized , thousands of of the faithful prated devoutly and mourned Jesus death."

This procession was started 20 years back by the founder president of CROSS Org , by Joe Dias.
Today was the hottest day and I was in real bad shape , because of my diabetic condition, I collapsed several times on the road, but managed to complete the entire length of the event ..a feat that I had photographed last year too.

Walking with the Christians the Walk of Christ means a lot to me, I owe my education to them they showed me path and never was I made to feel that Christianity is better than Islam..
Actually the Padres who taught me at Holy Name High School Colaba , made my Faith in my own religiosity much more stronger..I pay my tribute here to two priests who were responsible for this late Fr Stephen Nazareth and Late Fr Leslie Ratus.

Even the late Cardinal Gracias who walked the quadrangle of my school would pat my head ..yes Christianity has given me much and made me what I am today.

My late parents Mohamed and Shamim Shakir taught me to respect all religiosity and this was the source of my beliefs and my conviction..

And I know as tears drop from my eyes they must be happy that I shot pictures of a walk that is a state of life towards Peace,and walking with a community I hold in the highest regard.


I dedicate this series to my very dear friend Fleur De Lys. ..of Flickr.

This entire series posted at Flickr only.

73000 Blogs in 23 Months at Flickr

73000 Blogs in 23 Months at Flickr, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

With your love , blessings encouragement I cross over 73000 blogs in 23 months at Flickr.

361,813 views

I could not have done this without all of you.

Queer Azadi March Gay Parade Mumbai 2008

Queer Azadi March Gay Parade Mumbai 2008, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

posted at Now Public

my.nowpublic.com/strange/queer-azadi-march-gay-parade-mum...

On 16 August 2008 a day after our Independence day celebrations , the members of the gay community, the lesbians, hijras transgenders , cross dressers along with their supporters , well wishers ,friends and relatives took out a Peace March from August Kraanti Marg to Girgaum Chowpatty Mumbai..




This was a march to show their solidarity against the draconian anti human , sodomy law Article 377..the biggest curse left behind by the British Raj on the soul of the secular spirit of our nation... India.









Section 377. Unnatural offences

Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with 1[imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment of either description for term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Explanation. -Penetration is sufficient to constitute the carnal intercourse necessary to the offence described in this section.





1. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, sec.117. and sch., for "transportation for life" (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).

www.vakilno1.com/bareacts/IndianPenalCode/S377.htm





I decided to shoot this event as my Hijra Curu Laxmi Narayan Tripathi and a cross dresser friend Edwin a make up artist were participating too..




There were some big names here at the march, Anand Grover , Nitin Karani, Dolly Thakore, Rachel Reubens , James Ferriera....there were many whom I did not know ..




I also did the Sufi Kaif a trance dance on the streets with the transgenders




This is a 631 picture set at my Flickr photo stream..




www.flickr.com/photos/firozeshakir/sets/72157606759637094/




I bring it to Now Public and share its essence with all of you.. with a prayet in my heart that IPC Section 377 will one day be scrapped completely , and stringent laws protecting children from sodomy rape and pedophiles be bought in urgently.




Laws against child prostitution , women trafficking ..the need of the hour




Indian Judiciary is the heart beat of the conscience of our country..




Thank you Fred and Paschen for recommending this story..a mans sexuality should not be an instrument of his punishment by a biased and blinkered sanctimonious society..period.
Man has a right to be what he wants to be provided it is for his good and the good of humanity..becoming a terrorist is nothing but becoming a soldier of Satan.. against God and man ,and this peaceful planet that takes all the blows in sheer pain and humility.
Being a homosexual, eunuch or gay should not be a criteria for ethnic cleansing, racial profiling.
.
My recent pimping for votes for my Hijda eunuch blogs , got my votes deleted as the person concerned said this is not a popularity contest but an award for photography , made me throw up...photography is for healing and and adding succor to a failed being on this planet, the eunuchs tansgender hijdas in India are the most neglected lot, gang raped by a sucked system that wants only Aryan racial revival. this attitude is akin to the Nazis, sending them to the gas chambers of mans Hate..
I am an heterosexual male doe snot stop me from supporting their cause..I would support any cause that is a cause for mutual coexistence in society..

I know hijra friends that were raped by rogue cops, I know hijra friends that have been raped as under trials IN crowded prisons, I know hijra friends that were kidnapped from homes and sold to the eunuchs..My reason for enlisting my blogs to the awards was to get them recognition on a larger scale..Who cares for name and fame..money..
A fistful of sky is what man needs to reach greater heights of humilty..

Har Koie Chahta Hai Ek Mutthi Bar Asman

Allah Ho Akbar Allah Be Praised

Allah Ho Akbar Allah Be Praised, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

allah ho akbar
allah be praised
a gift of his bounty
the shakirs
have raised
her home coming
to our lives
our problems erased
her heart
into our souls
Allah has placed

Hijra Hallucinations

Hijra Hallucinations, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

with the accursed system
of a biased social order
the hijda has lost her patience
being a hijda a hell of life
a life full of accusation
trials and privation
the hijda cocooned
in a marginalized
world of deprivation
yes society with blinkers
hates the hijda
without proper reason
stepping on their toes
without hesitation
a new world within a world
the resurgence
of a hijda nation

Turner Road Traffic Signal Kid

Turner Road Traffic Signal Kid, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

The child in her arms is drugged , and he too works the signal from morning to evening..lunch is left overs from a nearby restaurant..
I have seen this girl grow , once she too was slung on another child's waist, this is her karma..her fate she can never escape..

Clothes that she wears are given by some kind lady..

Soon she will reach puberty its than her walk on the tight rope of life begins, the boys from her tribe will than start hounding her for their cheap thrills ...she cant escape that part of her growing up..

She was born a liability as a girl child , unprotected but for her parents she is an asset , the day she gives birth to a child, even if it is out of wedlock..

The new born child rakes in the money, is given on hire, drugged , drenched in the rains, scorched in summer..such is life on a traffic signal slow track.

Slum Dog Millionaire is an unfulfilled celluloid for the dreamless..a script of sorrow and misery and despair..

I miss the Turner Road Signal as I passed it twice as my old shop was off Waterfield Road..

Now I am away from this signal - its only the Red Light that halts cars and vehicles it is the red light that gets them their daily wages ..

And the day the signal does not work.. they curse their fate , most of the kids from her group are now at the Pamposh Signal and at the Linking Road Signal off National College.

I remember at the Khar Linking Road signal a little girl begged with a kitten clung to her waist.. she and the kitten both have disappeared..

Necessity is the mother of invention..

Two Bald Heads

Two Bald Heads, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

two bald hard boiled heads
a single knot genetically
binding
two different color threads
on the soul of a family tree
its origin embeds
shot by
my wife
a picture of hope
harmony and peace
cybernetically spreads
an untiring thought
as it retreads