bollywoods most wanted photographerno1

photographerno1..is a shia mystic..they dont make like this any more.. he walks on fire,self flagellates,cuts his forehead each moharram.. and he is sane as sane as you or the guy next door,..

Barsati Bawa and the Barefeet Blogger

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105,821 items / 686,170 views

This was shot last week, at the Makhdoom Shah Baba Urus and I wore this kaftan after a very long time, I am trying very hard to complete my backlog of the Urus pictures and other miscellaneous stuff..I have perhaps another 5 GB card to upload..

My dress code has already changed since yesterday I will only wear black for 2 month eight days till Moharam ends.

I spoke to Marziya she is enjoying her train trip to Lucknow…

I wont be shooting Moharam in Mumbai so lets see which city in India I end up in..certainly not Lucknow.

Whichever city I go I will be barefeet till my return the next day after Ashura.

Filed under: Firoze Shakir Bollywoods Most Wanted

Where Will I Be This Ashura I Do Not Know

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a call from a bereaved mother
I shall go carrying her hanky
on which her tears flow
where will I be this Ashura
I do not know
towards the shores
of sorrow
I flow
like the winds I blow
a dagger in my hand
a camera in my soul
although
wading through
rivulets of blood
to and fro
barefeet blogger
of mumbai
his logo
ghame hussain
a belief
a pledge
you cant let go

Filed under: Firoze Shakir Bollywoods Most Wanted

The Hijras At The Dhuni Mahim Urus

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All these years I shot the Dhuni the rafaees at Mahim I hardly met hijras , and here I was blessed with their presence , they had come here for chillum smoke and the niyaz.

I shot several frames but I could hardly get to talk to them , the time at the Dhuni moves rapidly , and I can hardly sit at one place shooting the sandals and the possessed ladies.

Filed under: Firoze Shakir Bollywoods Most Wanted

Hunger is a State Of Mind

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a food for thought
beautifully defined
hunger
is a state of mind
they also see
who are totally blind
it costs nothing
to be good and kind
if you Google search
your heart truth
you will find
humility
the only essence
of mankind

Filed under: Firoze Shakir Bollywoods Most Wanted

The Eyes are the Windows of the Soul

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I shot this kid sitting on a cart of a sandal procession, I told him in a language of serene silence Hum Sab Ek he looked back at me tearing my essence of life to shreds answering back Hum Sab Fake..

Eyes are the widows of the soul
wide awake
man gods one and only mistake
his thirst god could not slake
a foundation built
on a fading flake
man born
as god in a cradle
crucified on a stake
a garden of eden
man lost to a snake
man in a world of reality
the only thing fake
man gods one and only
heartbreak

to sadaf khan

Filed under: Firoze Shakir Bollywoods Most Wanted

Kashmiri Beggars Going to Mahim Urus

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Earlier they felt a bit awkward when I photographed them , they still dont know why.

But heart to heart they know a man dressed like me wont be a threat to their lives , their lives are already doomed much before I shot their picture.

I am not a social activist,I am not a Kashmiri but I am an Indian and these are fellow Indians going through an unending chakra of pain.

I don’t sell pictures I dont begrudge those who steal my pictures ..I am on the net where life is no holds barred.

And fuck who will buy pictures of pain , blood and gore ..you get them free anyway .. on the streets of despair.

My pictures are moments where my burglar soul looted the emotions of the misplaced,the little girl likes me , she does not know I am a father and a grand father of a girl child too.

These are sad poems you have to read without words , this is street photography, a defective camera , bad light and a barefeet blogger the sutradhar of their fucked destiny..

Destiny the only lame excuse for bad governance and neglect of the people that vote it to power emasculating their souls for a vote .. yes democracy has killed more people than a dictator I think as a pedestrian poet of pain…by passing the buck where a man who stands for office in the shortest period becomes more wealthy overnight.. and the poor commits suicide ..the easiest short cut that costs nothing..

Yes Politics that lives on the blood sweat and tears of a poor man.

Filed under: Firoze Shakir Bollywoods Most Wanted

Kashmiri Beggars Going to Mahim Urus

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These are Kashmiri beggars walking from Bandra to Mahim ,they will stand in the food lane that leads to the Holy Shrine .. as alms are given to them..

A misplaced Jihad that has turned humanity into drops of tears..on the soul of a comatose nation.

Luckily they are not competing with the local milieu in a form of employment that has very few seekers or they too would be shown the stick for political gain.

We as Indians ae the biggest racists we hate our own,our police target people dressed like me with a valid press card yet allow terrorists to come in with open hands..

I was hassled by the Mumbai cops posted at the Dargah entrance of Food Lane I took their pictures ..as a reminder of my humiliation – yes our outsourcing for cops and security people is the worst..its not merit but caste that we promote..

Yes We are Indians Zaban Sambhal Ke..

Filed under: Firoze Shakir Bollywoods Most Wanted

Dargah Fakhruddin Shah Baba Mahim

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This is the sanctum sanctorum of the famous Holy Saint of Mahim known as Fakhruddin Shah Baba or Baba Fakhr..

This is a very low profile abode of Peace , silent and serene facing the main Mahim Road.

Baba Fakhr is source of divine inspiration, people flock here on Thursdays and during the Urus time of both the Saints.

Filed under: Firoze Shakir Bollywoods Most Wanted

Possession at Sandal Time

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I have shot this extensively, the guys who carry the sandal of the Holy Saint invariably go into a stunning trance , a kind of possession.
They are held by their mates before they go berserk.. its a phenomenon I cannot answer ..

I have however shot the possessed women at Dargahs , and this is a real tough subject to shoot..and all this possession pictures in a 6 GB card I hope to upload at Flickr before Moharam starts..

Filed under: Firoze Shakir Bollywoods Most Wanted

The Gemstone Dealers of Mahim Road

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105,430 items / 683,743 views

All this was shot during the Urus of Makhdoom Shah Baba , every time I exited the Dhuni of the Chancawalli Rafaees , my legs would carry me here , via the Mahim Dargah food lane.

Its totally dark here and this pavement leads to the Holy Shrine of Baba Fakhr or Fakhruddin Shah Baba.

Most of the gemstone dealers are rafaees too selling cheap stones , glittering glass and other oddments for the naive and the poor man.

Next to the gemstone dealers is the herbal stuff bought from jungles , aphrodisiacs like salajit, and other ingredients before Viagra was born.

Earlier the street guys objected to my taking their pictures , but not anymore..they think I am mad and in a world that is reflection of illusory normalcy madness is the best way to survive. My friend Randall der Joel from Montreal now in Bethlehem will agree with me.

This year I have not shot this lane the way I shot it earlier..work kept me occupied.

But I have a confession to make I never ask for anything from Dargahs – never .
As God knows what I need he gives me even that I would have never realized I needed..

While I was shooting the Dargah Baba Fakhr I did make an humble request my very first one .,, I owed a friend some money and hoped I could give it to him..the very next day I was at Lokhandwala I was given an advance for a work and the next thing I remember rushing to this friends clinic and clearing my debt..

There are others too I hope to giv eback , those that stood by me in my most difficult and hard times..

And people who owe me money , took me for a ride are happy that I dont even call them anymore..

Filed under: Firoze Shakir Bollywoods Most Wanted

Mother’s Eyes Say It All

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baba fakhr
bless my child
my one and only
little doll
save her
from all future
pitfalls
motherhood
the greatest gift
of godliness
all else is false
Allah Ho Akbar
embedded
in the soul
of her spirituality
as the muezzin calls
reverberating
eternal peace
from wall to wall
humility
the essence
of life
that makes you tall
whether you are
big or small

Filed under: Firoze Shakir Bollywoods Most Wanted

Facebook Applications Suck

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Invites
I keep getting
however hard
I try to duck
games that
I dont play
invite after
invite
I am stuck
blocking
one application
with another
brand new one
I am struck
like a brick
friends turned
enemies
on my head chuck
my fucked luck
barefeet blogger
bad luck
farmville
that makes
facebook
big bucks
my pedestrian pathos
a fragmented genius
at work
as the
world watches
my agony
with a fat smirk
the only one
who shares
my feelings
regarding
facebook applications
my flickr best friend
Teresa Burke

Filed under: Firoze Shakir Bollywoods Most Wanted

Barefeet Blogger of Mumbai

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shot by sherkhan photographer

Sherkhan does the still photography of all the functions of the Mahim police.
And here he has shot me exposing the street angst of a blogger.

Mahim Police Urus Committee headed by Senior Inspector Mr Liaqat Shaikh send me an invite every year..and I try never to miss the Sandal procession of the Mahim Police..
Mahim Police head Senior Inspector Mr Pawar too is a person who endears to all with his humility and love of humanity.

Filed under: Firoze Shakir Bollywoods Most Wanted

Bhar do jholi meri ya Muhammad

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Bhar do jholi meri ya Muhammad

Shah -e- Madeena suno ilteja Khuda ke liye
Karam ho mujh pe Habeeb-e-Khuda Khuda ke liye
Huzoor ghuncha-e-ummeed ab to khil jaaye
Tumhaare dar ka gadaa hoon to bheek mil jaaye

Bhar do jholi meri ya Muhammad
Lautkar main na jaaunga khaali

Tumhaare aastaane se zamaana kya nahin paata
Koi bhi dar se khaali maangne waala nahin jaata

Bhar do jholi meri Sarkaar-e-Madeena
Bhar do jholi meri Taajdaar-e-Madeena

Tum zamaane ke mukhtaar ho ya nabi
Bekason ke madadgaar ho ya nabi
Sab ki sunte ho apne ho ya ghair ho
Tum ghareebon ke gham-khwaar ho nabi

Bhar do jholi meri Sarkaar-e-Madeena
Bhar do jholi meri Taajdaar-e-Madeena

Hum hain ranj-o-museebat ke maare hue
Saqt mushkil mein hain gham se haare hue
Ya nabi kuchh Khudaara humein bheek do
Dar pe aaye hain jholi pasaare hue

Bhar do jholi meri Sarkaar-e-Madeena
Bhar do jholi meri Taajdaar-e-Madeena

Hai mukhaalif zamaana kidhar jaaein hum
Haalat-e-bekasi kisko dikhlaaye hum
Hum tumhaare bhikaari hain ya Mustafa
Kiske aage bhalaa haath phailaayein hum

Bhar do jholi meri Sarkaar-e-Madeena
Bhar do jholi meri Taajdaar-e-Madeena

Bhar do jholi meri ya Muhammad
Lautkar main na jaaunga khaali
Kuchh nawaason ka sadqa ataa ho
Dar pe aaya hoon bankar sawaali

Haq se paayi wo shaan-e-kareemi
Marhaba dono aalam ke waali
Uski qismat ka chamka sitaara
Jis pe nazr-e-karam tum ne daali

Zindagi bakhsh ki bandagi ko
Aabroo deen-e-haq ki bachaali
Wo Muhammad ka pyara nawaasa
Jisne sajde mein gardan kataali

Jo ibn-e-murtaza ne kiya kaam khoob hai
Qurbaani-e-Hussain ka anjaam khoob hai
Khurbaan ho ke Fatema Zehra ke chain ne
Deen-e-Khuda ki shaan badhaayi Hussain ne
Bakhshi hai jisne mazhab-e-Islam ko hayaat
Jitni azeem hazrat-e-Shabbir ki hai zaat
Maidaan-e-Karbala mein shah-e-khush khisaal ne
Sajde mein sar kataa ke Mohammad ke laal ne
Zindagi bakhsh di bandagi ko
Aabroo deen-e-haq ki bachaali
Wo Muhammad ka pyara nawaasa
Jisne sajde mein gardan kataali

Hashr mein unko dekhenge jis dam
Ummati ye kahengey khushi se
Aa rahey hain wo dekho Mohammad
Jinke kaandhe pe kambli hai kaali

Mehshar ke roz pesh-e-Khuda hongey jis ghadi
Hogi gunahgaaron mein kis darjaa bekali
Aate hue nabi ko jo dekhenge ummati
Ek doosre se sab ye kahengey khushi khushi
Aa rahey hain wo dekho Mohammad
Jinke kaandhe pe kambli hai kaali

Sar-e-mehshar gunahgaaron se purzish jis ghadi hogi
Yaqeenan har bashar ko apni bakhshish ki parhi hogi
Sabhi ko aas us din kambli waale se lagi hogi
Ke aise mein Mohammad ki sawaari aa rahi hogi
Pukaarega zamaana us ghadi dukh dard ke maaron
Na ghabraao gunahgaaron na ghabraao gunahgaaron
Aa rahey hain wo dekho Mohammad
Jinke kaandhe pe kambli hai kaali

Aashiq-e-mustafa ki azaan mein Allah Allah kitna asar thha
Sachaa ye waaqiya hai azaan-e-Bilaal ka
Ek din rasool-e-paak se logon ne yun kahaa
Ya Mustafa azaan ghalat dete hain Bilaal
Kahiye huzoor aapka is mein hai kya khayaal
Farmaaya Mustafa ne ye sach hai to dekhiye
Waqt-e-sahar ki aaj azaan aur koi de
Hazrat Bilaal ne jo azaan-e-sahar na di
Khudrat Khuda ki dekho na mutlaq sahar hui
Aaye Nabi ke paas kuchh as haab-e-baasabaa
Ki arz mustafa se ay Shah-e-ambiya
Hai kya sabab sahar na hui aaj Mustafa
Jibreel laaye aise mein payghaam-e-Kibriya
Pehle to Mustafa ko adab se kiya salaam
Baad as salaam unko Khuda ka diya payaam
Yun Jibraeel ne kahaa khair ul anaam se
Allah ko hai pyar tumhaare ghulaam se
Farmaa raha hai aap se ye Rabb-e-Zuljalaal
Hogi na subha dengey na jab tak azaan Bilaal
Aashiq-e-mustafa ki azaan mein Allah Allah kitna asar thha
Arsh waale bhi sunte thhey jisko
Kya azaan thi azaan-e-bilaali

Kaash purnam se aaye nabi mein
Jeete ji ho bulaawa kisi din
Haal-e-gham Mustafa ko sunaaoon
Thhaam kar unke rauze ki jaali

Bhar do jholi meri ya Muhammad
Lautkar main na jaaunga khaali

Filed under: Firoze Shakir Bollywoods Most Wanted

Invoking the Bounty of the Holy Saint Baba Fakhr

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They stand outside the Dargah doors invoking the Holy Saint Baba Fakhr and he gives without holding back, he gives abundantly , women helpless beggars all waiting for a sign of hope..
I am not a Sufi adherent but I have something special for Baba Fakhr, I have always come here Urus after Urus as a photographer sharing his message of Peace with all of you on the net.

I like the overall simplicity of a Dargah as an abode of spirituality , a place that does not promote hate between communities , a place that does not urge you to bomb places of worship, a place that does not create anti nationalism, a place which certainly does not preach Muslims kill Muslims .

Wahabbism can never produce Saints like this who bough communities together, without bigotry , maybe all this is considered heretic by overzealous Muslims but I prefer this heresy than the bullets that kill the soul of Islam by a Jehaddi.

And with this I conclude my set of Baba Fakhruddin Shahs Urus 2009 at Flickr – 405 picture blogs of peace.

And I dedicate this set to Mr Jethmalani who had the guts to say what he had to say about sectarian strife in Islam and terrorism promoted by the self same custodians of Islam..
Modern Yazidiyat in the guise of petro dollars cannot buy the Humanity of Hussain.

Yun to Islam surkhuru huwa har bala ke baad
lekin woh baat na hui karbala ke baad

Qatale-hussain asal main marge yazeed hai
Islam Zinda hota hai har qarbala ke baad

Shah ast Hussain, Badshah ast Hussain
Deen ast Hussain, Deen Panah ast Hussain
Sardad na dad dast, dar dast-e-yazeed,
Haqaa key binaey La ila ast Hussain
.

Filed under: Firoze Shakir Bollywoods Most Wanted

A Message of Peace On Facebook

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Hi Firoze

Firstly let me introduce myself. I am SS s friend in Singapore. Just saw in one of the newsfeeds she had commented on one of ur pctures in street photography and curiousity has it, I ended up browsing your pictures for last 3 hours. haha sorry to be stalking.

Some of your pictures amazed me, others made me extremly uncomfortable (no negative connotation to it!). I am impressed by the fact that you are able to capture the moments the world will flinch at, call it ‘gross’. I love it. Admittingly, for some pictures, I quickly pressed next and looked away. With all due respect to those pictures, I dont think I am strong enough to absorb it all.

Since I browsed through your profile, appreciate your pictures, the humbleness and beauty in what you have captured, I thought i must write to you. In nutshell, your pictures had an impact on me, something I cannot figure out yet. I can only explain it by bloodrush, increased heartbeat and impulse to stand up.

I am going to Pakistan in January and will be visiting some shrines in Multan. Looking forward to the experience.

Yet again, India has given me another reason to visit.

Allah Hafiz

Filed under: Firoze Shakir Bollywoods Most Wanted

Doing The Kaif On The Mean Streets of Mahim

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Filed under: Firoze Shakir Bollywoods Most Wanted

Doing The Kaif On The Mean Streets of Mahim

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Filed under: Firoze Shakir Bollywoods Most Wanted

The Crazy Bawa

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He was a new entrant at the dhuni of the Chancawalli rafaees I met him recently , he is the one who used the sword on my stomach.

He is a famous rafaee , but did not participate as he was unwell, I was told you could drive a car over his body and nothing would happen to him.

He wears two watches , one tells the time in heaven and the other in hell,, and both places exist here on earth

I have another 6 GB card of the Makhdoom Shah Baba Sandal and the Ali Maulah sandal I have not yet uploaded.

Filed under: Firoze Shakir Bollywoods Most Wanted

Shahenshah Bawa Sword Samurai

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I dont use long lenses , though I have a faithful 80/200 ED 2.8 AF lens .

I dont take it along as it is heavy and intrudes its phallic presence on the soul of policemen and those that hate photographers.

I shoot from close and the rafaee swords dont scare me as the Shia flagellating blade and the Shia sword does..

I shoot barefeet respecting the ground where the ritualism takes place..I believe its the subject who should be more eloquent than the photographer..

The photographer is a mere holistic sutradhar creating a bond between mind and matter..

And it is not the camera but the magic within the third of eye of Shiva embedded in a Muslim mind too that creates pictures ..

Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder I told that to a blind man.. he said yes I see it more clearly now than when I had eyes.

Shooting with your closed is what photography is all about, this is a Sufi metaphor..

Photography is music you play it by ear, and practice is what matters ..

Street photography is the mother of picture taking..you capture the essence of godliness as found on the garbage heap of life..

Incidentally of late I have begun shooting all garbage sites in prime locations of Bandra..dont ask me why..

Filed under: Firoze Shakir Bollywoods Most Wanted

Hardcore Eye Ball Piercing

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Now you will perhaps understand why I dont miss the Sandal procession of Fakhruddin Shah Baba every year.

And it is the first time this sandal I decided only to shoot the Chancawalli Rafaees, normally I shoot other guys doing sword stuff , I gave it a total skip…

But I am not greedy for pictures as a poet I learnt when to end my poem and when to stop shooting as a photographer ..

And I believe if a picture is destined to be shot by me there is no escape for that moment it will reach the internet come what may.

And soon in a few days all this will stop on my photo stream at Flickr, no more fun , no more frolic as a Shia I will go back to my roots , my dress code will become black, no whites no greys..

Minimal jewellery and totlly devoid of it durng Ashra and Chehlum, no more kaif just cutting my head and doing the Tandav on the soul of Shimr and Yazid.

What is Muharram ?
January 11, 2008 — moralsandethics

What is Muharram?

Muharram (Arabic: محرم) It is the first month of the Islamic calendar. Instead of joyous celebration, Muslims mark the beginning of the New Year by taking up the black attire of sorrow and participate in mourning gatherings in which the sacrifices of Husayn and his companions are commemorated.It is one of the four months of the year in which fighting is prohibited. Since the Islamic calendar is lunar, Muharram moves from year to year when compared with the Gregorian calendar.

Muharram is so called because it was unlawful to fight during this month; the word is derived from the word ‘haram’ meaning forbidden. It is held to be the most sacred of all the months, excluding Ramadan.It is the same month when Husayn, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was brutally massacred in Karbala alongside his family and friends in the year 680 CE/61 AH.

Their martyrdom is a sad day for all Muslims, especially the Shi’a, who hold mourning ceremonies to recall the righteous virtues for which the valiant martyrs stood and the grave calamities that they thus had to bear. The commemoration of this brutal massacre (Battle of Karbala) begins on the first day of Muharram and reaches its climax on the 10th of Muharram, the day of the battle, known as Ashurah and continues for 40 days or 69 days.

What is Ashura ?
Ashura (عاشوراء transliteration: ‘Āshūrā’, Ashura, Ashoura, and other spellings) It is on the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar and marks the climax of the Remembrance of Muharram but not the Islamic month. It is also called Yaumu-l ‘Ashurah, or simply Ashura meaning, ‘the tenth day’.

It is well-known because of historical significance and mourning for the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala in the year 61 AH (AD 680). It is a day of speeches, public processions, and great grief. Men and women chant and weep, mourning Husayn, his family, and his followers. Speeches emphasize the importance of the values for which Husayn sacrificed himself, his family, and his followers. For centuries Shi’a pilgrims flocked here during Muharram, a practice which was severely limited under the regime of Saddam Hussein
What is Karbala ?

Karbala (Arabic: كربلاء; BGN: Al-Karbalā’; also spelled Karbala al-Muqaddasah) is a city in Iraq, located about 100 km (60 mi) southwest of Baghdad at 32.61°N, 44.08°E.
In the time of Husayn ibn Ali’s life, the place was also known as al-Ghadiriyah, Naynawa, and Shathi’ul-Furaat.The city’s association with Shīˤa Islām have made it a centre of religious instruction as well as worship; it has more than 100 mosques and 23 religious schools, of which possibly the most famous is that of Ibn Fahid, constructed some 440 years ago.

Karbala’s prominence in Shīˤī is the result of the Battle of Karbala, fought on the site of the modern city on October 10, 680.Both Husayn and his half-brother ˤAbbās ibn ˤAlī were buried by the local Banī Asad tribe at what later became known as the Mashhad Al-Husayn. Later on city grew up around the tombs. Husayn’s tomb (View Larger Map) is a place of pilgrimage for many Shīˤa Muslims, especially on the anniversary of the battle, the Day of Āshūrā.

Shah ast Hussain, Badshah ast Hussain
Deen ast Hussain, Deen Panah ast Hussain
Sardad na dad dast, dar dast-e-yazeed,
Haqaa key binaey La ila ast Hussain

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Shahenshah Bawa

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Fakhruddin Shah Baba is a smaller dargah at Mahim, but has a huge number of devotees, and among the kids of Mahim Baba Fakhr as they fondly call him is their patron saint.

Those who visit Makhdoom Shah Baba have to come here to pay their respects to Baba Fakhr.

Across the Dargah on the pavement ahead are rafaees selling gemstones , herbal medicines and aphrodisiacs.. even the older masseurs do brisk business , families live on this pavement as is reaches out towards the end where the Food Gully of Mahim begins..

This year I did not shoot the Mahim Mela nor the Holy Shrine of Khwajah Khizar in the water at Mahim beach.

Actually I must confess last but not the least I would have loved having Dr Glenn Losack MD shoot this , all this is way up his alley, and he loves shooting the same stuff I shoot except Hijras.

He shoots hijras just to make me happy.

Glenn had shot Shahenshah baba at Haji Malang on his last trip..

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My Bond With The Chancawalli Rafaees

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The most unusual part of my bond with the Chancawalli Rafaees I meet them only during the Urus circuit, no inter action at all in between.

From here I will meet them at Haji Malang where they have their asthana or sitting place called the Rafaee Chowk.
Next Ajmer Sharif at Char Yar.

Over the years I have given them clothes , gemstones and they have given me a sense of brotherhood.

Late Handi Sai visited my shop at Bandra , as very few bawas know about my professional background, earlier they thought I shot pictures to sell them , but as I do not give copies nor have they seen my pictures , they realized perhaps I was mad like the rest of them.

But guys like Sakib Firoze Rafaee told them about me and I was accepted as a part of their coterie..I document a world that very few have seen, this is the back lane of a media neglected culture..
Who has time for all this weird stuff..and bawas have the same unfriendly temperament as camera hating Naga Sadhus.

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The Shia Rafaee at The Sandal of Fakhruddin Shah Baba

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I have kept my pictures of Makhdoom Shah Baba Urus on hold to post the body piercing feats of the Chancawalli Rafaees , I was held up at Chembur for over two hours and just made it in time for the procession that began from Fakhruddin Shah Babas Holy Shrine ..this is one sandal I try not to miss , I get to shoot the most amazing body piercing shots.
But I did not know I would be a part of one, I had given my camera to a guy to shoot my picture with this crazy bawa , I did not realize that he took the sword and began cutting my stomach, I did not wince I am used to the blade of the sword..as Shia.

I shot a lot of stuff , did the kaif to Bhar De Jholi Meri Ya Mohomed Ghar Se Jaunga Tere Na Khali..

But I left the sandal soon after I don follow it completely till its return journey I had to rush home as I have not been keeping well since last two days..

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Sakibs Sandal Mahim 2009

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Sakib is a very dear friend, he has a number of florists shops in Mumbai and at Haji Malang.I began shooting the sandals , dargahs rafaees through Sakib and Firoze Rafaee , but it was Fahad Khalil Pathan the son of the late Peshimam of the Makhdoom Shah Baba mosque who introduced me to them.

Incidentally I met Fahad Khalil Pathan during my weekly trips to Chor Bazar and the Kamatipura flea market.We both wear Kerba or amber, and Fahad has a very old and impressive necklace, so we became friends .

Fahad was the person who took me behind the Makhdoom Shah Baba dargah and introduced me to the Chancawalli Rafaees ..and thus began my tryst with the fakirs mendicants body piercers.

I thought this introduction was necessary especially for my friends at Facebook where I post most of my stuff too, I have posted 50001 links at Facebook..and samplers of my Flickr sets..

It was at Sakibs sandal I met Nazim Bhai brother of Peersaab Fakhru Miya Hujra no6..and thus began my Ajmer connection and trips.
Ajmer threw me into the laps of Nizamuddin Dargah.. that I shot during Chehlum in Delhi a long time back.

Haji Malang I try not to miss..there are a lot od Dargahs I have not seen , Meena Datar Unjha, Kariar Sharif, and Tajuddin Baba in Nagpur I would like to visit if I get an opportunity and divine encouragement.

Shooting the Urus circuit is a rare specialty ,its not mere photography but requires the mijaaz, you need to shoot this as a deewana or there is no meaning to the images you capture, I firmly believe I shoot emotions sparkling with life and spirituality..it has taken me a lot of time , a lot of struggle shooting the bawas I became a bawa myself..

And all this I owe to Sakib, and his best friend Abhijeet the Hindu Khadim of Haji Malang.I can live with my hijra friends but Abhijit gives me lodging boarding free..takes care of my comforts.. and climbing the Malangad mountains barefeet is a tough trek mind you, I am a diabetic.

Sakib is a rafaee a fact very few people know.

These pictures of his Urus shot in bad light are a must see, he removed his shirt lay down on a bed of nails, with a nail neck strap on his neck, and a huge boulder was placed on his chest..Sakib is amazing at overcoming pain.

All this was shot on 5 December the Siddi performers were here , and the most unique is the making of the sandal paste..that Sakibs brother and Nazim Bhai jointly prepared , all this was placed in a Palki..

The procession took of from Sakibs brothers house and I shot this till the Food lane , but the most unusual was a boy bleeding has he began cutting his tongue with a sword.

I know if Dr Glenn Losack MD was to see all this he would go berserk…and to shoot Hassan Ganda lifting a 50 kg boulder with his penis well Glenn would even sell his soul to the devil…

Hassan Ganda could make a lot of money but he has renounced to world..women would give him anything to have his progeny but this crazy proud bawa highly opinionated is not interested.

The thing that he has envied and wanted me to present to him is a rare stick curved like a snake with a silver birds head that I have ..but I never could think of giving it to him.. somethings cannot be bought or sold.

Filed under: Firoze Shakir Bollywoods Most Wanted

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Barsati Bawa at the Dhuni

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