Saturday, November 21, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Dr Reza Masoudi Nejad at My House
100,800 items / 648,750 views
Dr Reza Masoudi Nejad is from London and he connected me from the internet after seeing my Moharam pictures , he came to my house to get details about Moharam in Mumbai that he plans to shoot..he visited my shop too.. met my family at home all this was on Sunday.He shot the Bandra Bazar Road and Bandra Hill Road Tata Agiary or Parsi Fire Temple
About Dr Reza Masoudi Nejad
rezamasoudi.blogspot.com/
I am Reza Masoudi Nejad, born in Dezfoul (1969) in the south west of Iran and currently living in London.
I am an architect and Urban morphologist, recently completed my PhD at the Bartlett, UCL, University of London.
I used a Praktica BX20 for a long time and I have started digital photography since 2002 by a Canon PowerShot A70 then I bought my Nikon D70 in June 2004.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
What I Shoot With My Camera - Marziya Shoots with her Eyes
What I Shoot With My Camera - Marziya Shoots with her Eyes, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.
marziya shakir
23 month old
how time flies
what I shoot
with my camera
marziya shoots
with her eyes
embedding it
firmly forever
on the memory card
of her mind
an upcoming
pedestrian
photographer
in disguise
her camera vision
on the viewfinder
of her heart and soul lies
focused likewise
my only chela
she teaches me
to live life full size
beyond a sartorial
soliloquy
that I stylize
photography
a divine interpretation
you dont theorize
enhancing
god godliness
beyond the earth
seas and the skies
peace of mind
often comes at a price
dedicated to
mr sangeeth sivan
Khuda Ki Rah Mein Sar Jhukaya Hai
khuda ki rah mein
sar jhukaya hai
jo kuch bhi hai
sab unhi se paya hai
idd mubarak
aman ka paigham
unke ghar se aaya hai
deepawali ka diya
jo usne hindu muslim
ki mohabat se jalaya hai
hamari nazron ka dosh
hamare peeche hamare dard
ka saya hai dilon jaan se
es desh ne hame
ek donon ke liye banaya hai
vande matram kya
desh ki khatir
hamare pushton ne
apne khoon
se ese sajaya hai
to mr vikas mohan my friend and patron of many years..
and randall der joel my Canadian connection of peace and brotherhood..
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Lalbagh Cha Raja I Shoot
spiritual effervescence
as it overflows
from the bottle of my soul
Lalbagh Cha Raja
I shoot
the king of kings
as a photo blogger
a pedestrian poet
I pay my tribute
Lal Bagh Cha Raja
Mumbaikars salute
sculpted divinity
silent and mute
Goddess Parvati
Lord Shiva
their auspicious fruit
removing ignorance
spreading knowledge
granting wishes
his godly pursuit
saving us from the misery
from those who rob us and loot
mutual coexistence with animosity dilute
our peace our collective ethos
with hatred pollute
hindu muslim
our cultural inheritance
a path to live and let live
as offshoot
poem written on 14 Nov 2009
dedicated to Facebook Friend Shabbir Ali.
Friday, November 13, 2009
The Silence and Beyond- Religious Tonsure
Religious Tonsure
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonsure
Tonsure is the practice of some Christian churches, mystics, Buddhist novices and monks, and some Hindu temples of cutting the hair from the scalp of clerics, devotees, or holy people as a symbol of their renunciation of worldly fashion and esteem.
The origin of the tonsure remains unclear, but it certainly was not widely known in antiquity. There were three forms of tonsure known in the 7th and 8th centuries:
* The Oriental, which claimed the authority of Saint Paul the Apostle (Acts 18:18) and consisted of shaving the whole head. This was observed in the Eastern churches, including the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches. Hence Theodore of Tarsus, who had acquired his learning in Byzantine Asia Minor and bore this tonsure, had to allow his hair to grow for four months before he could be tonsured after the Roman fashion, and then ordained Archbishop of Canterbury by Pope Vitalian in 668.
* The Celtic, the exact shape of which is unclear from the sources, but in some way involved shaving the head from ear to ear.[1] The shape may have been semicircular, arcing forward from a line between the ears, but another popular suggestion, less borne out in the sources, proposes that the entire forehead was shaved back to the ears.[2] More recently a triangular shape, with one point at the front of the head going back to a line between the ears, has been suggested.[1] The Celtic tonsure was worn in Ireland and Great Britain and was connected to the distinct set of practices known as Celtic Christianity.[3] It was greatly despised by those affiliated with the Roman custom, who considered it unorthodox and associated it with the heretic Simon Magus.[4]
* The Roman: this consisted of shaving only the top of the head, so as to allow the hair to grow in the form of a crown. This is claimed to have originated with Saint Peter, and was the practice of the Latin Rite Roman Catholic Church.
These claimed origins are possibly unhistorical; the earliest history of the tonsure is lost in obscurity. This practice is not improbably connected with the idea that long hair is the mark of a freeman, while the shaven head marks the slave (in the religious sense: a servant of God). Other theories are that the tonsure mimics male pattern baldness in an attempt to lend artificial respectability to men too young to display the real thing[citation needed], or that the tonsure is a ritual created by balding superiors in act of vanity and power over young non-bald subordinates.
Among the Germanic tribes, there appeared the custom that an unsuccessful pretender or a dethroned king would be tonsured. Then he had to retire to a monastery, but sometimes this lasted only until his hair grew back.[5]) The practice of tonsure, coupled with castration, was common for deposed emperors and his sons in Byzantium from around the 8th century, prior to which execution, usually by blinding, was the normal practice[6].
[edit] Tonsure today
[edit] Christianity
[edit] Western Christianity
In the Latin or Western Rite of the Roman Catholic Church, "first tonsure" was, in medieval times, the rite of inducting someone into the clergy and qualifying him for the civil benefits then enjoyed by clerics. Tonsure was a prerequisite for receiving the minor and major orders. Failing to maintain tonsure was the equivalent of attempting to abandon one's clerical state, and in the 1917 Code of Canon Law, any cleric in minor orders (or simply tonsured) who did not resume the tonsure within a month after being warned by his Ordinary, lost the clerical state. Over time, the appearance of tonsure varied, ending up for non-monastic clergy as generally consisting of a symbolic cutting of a few tufts of hair at first tonsure in the Sign of the Cross and in wearing a bare spot on the back of the head which varied according to the degree of orders. It was not supposed to be less than the size of a communicant's host, even for a tonsuratus, someone simply tonsured, and the approximate size for a priest's tonsure was the size of a priest's host. Countries that were not Catholic had exceptions to this rule, especially in the English-speaking world. In England and America, for example, the bare spot was dispensed with, likely because of the persecutions that could arise from being a part of the Catholic clergy, but the ceremonious cutting of the hair in the first clerical tonsure was always required. In accordance with Pope Paul VI's motu proprio Ministeria quaedam of 15 August 1972, "first tonsure is no longer conferred". Since that time, however, certain institutes have been authorized to use the first clerical tonsure, such as the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (1988), the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest (1990), and the Personal Apostolic Administration of Saint John Mary Vianney, (2001).
Apart from this general clerical tonsure, some Western Rite monastic orders, for example Carthusians and Trappists, employed a very full version of tonsure, shaving the head entirely bald and keeping only a narrow ring of short hair, sometimes called "the monastic crown" (see "Roman tonsure", above), from the time of entrance into the monastic novitiate for all monks, whether destined for service as priests or brothers. Some monastic orders and individual monasteries still maintain the tradition of a monastic tonsure.
The fuller form of clerical tonsure led to the wearing of a skull cap in church to keep the head warm. This skull cap, called a zuchetto, is still worn by the Pope (in white), Cardinals (in red) and bishops (in purple) both during and outside of formal religious ceremonies. Priests may wear a simple black zuchetto, only outside of religious services, though this is almost never seen except as a practical garment used for warmth by some monks. Some priests who held special titles (certain ranks of monsignori and some canons, for instance) formerly wore black zuchettos with red or purple piping, but this too has fallen out of use except in a few, extremely rare cases.
[edit] Eastern Christianity
Today in Eastern Orthodoxy and in the Eastern Catholic Churches of Byzantine Rite, there are three types of tonsure: baptismal, monastic, and clerical. It always consists of the cutting of four locks of hair in a cruciform pattern: at the front of head as the celebrant says "In the Name of the Father", at the back of head at the words "and the Son", and on either side of the head at the words "and the Holy Spirit". In all cases, the hair is allowed to grow back; the tonsure as such is not adopted as a hairstyle.
Baptismal tonsure is performed during the rite of Holy Baptism as a first sacrificial offering by the newly baptized. This tonsure is always performed, whether the one being baptized is an infant or an adult.
Monastic tonsure (of which there are three grades: Rassophore, Stavrophore and the Great Schema), is the rite of initiation into the monastic state, symbolic of cutting off of self-will. Orthodox monks traditionally never cut their hair or beards after receiving the monastic tonsure as a sign of the consecration of their lives to God (reminiscent of the Vow of the Nazirite).
Clerical tonsure is the equivalent of the "first tonsure" in the Latin church. It is done immediately prior to ordination to the minor order of reader but is not repeated at subsequrent ordinations.[7] This led to a once common usage that one was, for instance, "tonsured a reader", although technically the tonsure occurs prior to the prayer of ordination within the ordination rite.
[edit] Buddhism
In Buddhism tonsure is a part of the rite of pabbajja and also a part of becoming a monk. This involves shaving head and face. This tonsure is renewed as often as required to keep the head cleanly shaven.
[edit] Hinduism
In Hinduism, the underlying concept is that hair is a symbolic offering to the gods, representing a real sacrifice of beauty, and in return, are given blessings in proportion to their sacrifice.
Hair cutting (Sanskrit cuda karma, cuda karana) is one of traditional saṃskāras performed for young children:
"According to the teaching of the revealed texts, the Kudakarman (tonsure) must be performed, for the sake of spiritual merit, by all twice-born men in the first or third year."[8]
In some traditions the head is shaven completely while in others a small tuft of hair called sikha is left.
In some South Indian temples like Tirumala, Palani and Tiruttani it is customary for pilgrims to shave their heads in or near the temple of the god they are visiting.
There has been an Indian custom to perform a tonsure on widows after their husbands' death. It is not uncommon to tonsure the head of a child after the death of a parent (usually father).
K. Jamanadas has argued that tonsure was originally a Buddhist costum and that Brahmanic practices always considered tonsure inauspicious.[9]
Tonsuring in the in the Hindu culture serves multiple purposes and is used as a symbol. One of Its most prominent purposes is to show ones love for the God by washing away their past and starting anew [10]. Moreover tonsuring can be used for punishment or to show that someone is an outcast in society because of the law they have broken . It is also used as a way to raise money for local synagogues which is where women across India become victims of the more powerful leaders .Firstly, the art of tonsuring originated before the Common Era . The original purpose for tonsuring was to show ones devotion to the Gods by shaving their heads clean, women included, and start their lives anew. By shaving their heads, it enabled these people to free themselves from their past sins and continue on with purer lives. However over the course of thousands of years, tonsuring has found new functions. Tonsuring can denote ones social class or personal standing. For example, someone with a closely shaven head is practicing celibacy . A social outcast will have a completely bald heads while men that are ardently religious will shave their heads only leaving a sihka 1.Seoncdly tonsuring can be used for punishing people for dastardly crimes. For example in mid June 2009, a Hindu woman was accused of killing her husband alongside her two sons. She was then beaten in public and shaven bald, which is also symbolic of social ostracizing [11]. There are many other cases of tonsuring being used for that purpose however when used for that, people are shaven clean leaving them completely bald. Punishment for women with tonsuring is more severe, sadly, than with men. This is due to the social injustices that women have to face within the Hindu culture. In the modern era, tonsuring has been used as a way of generating income for the Hindu community while unfortunately victimizing the female community. For example, the American hair industry uses the free trade process to make profit not only for them but the people of India . The free trade works as such: the American hair industry buys the hair materials directly from the Hindu populace to later use in their community; after generating an amount of income a percentage of it (usually more) is given back to the Hindu community[12]. This money is used by the Hindu people to fund the expansion of their synagogues and helping their community. Unfortunately, many Hindu women are forced to shave their heads against their will and face brutality from their community leaders. This has become a problem within this community and higher leaders are trying to find ways to solve the issue. Even so, it is a very gray area and it has proven to become hard to stop because it has moved to an “underground” state . Political leaders are not stopping and are still trying to find ways to prevent the persecution of their women by these community leaders.
[edit] Islam
It is a ritual for pilgrims on the event of Hajj to shave their heads before entering Mecca. Shaving off hair from the head was considered an ancient symbol of becoming a slave in Arabia and when a pilgrim shaves his head, he declares himself to be the slave of his Lord.[13]
Martin Luther held that the mark of the beast was the tonsured haircut worn by Roman Catholic clergy.[14]
Lalbagh Cha Raja and The Muslim Blogger
Almost every shopkeeper, beggar shop vendor knows me at Lalbagh, thanks to Lalbagh Cha Raja who beckons me to his Court yea after year , this year I shot him extensively, all angles save from the stage..and I made just one trip after that I shot the Visarjan. I did not go for the auction as I had done last year..
Lalbagh Cha Raja may have many devotees , well wishers , but he has been over generous to the barefeet Muslim blogger of Mumbai..I have no words to describe these feelings..
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lalbaug
The Mandal, formerly known as 'Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandal, Lalbaug' was founded in the year 1928,[1] because of a vow (Navas) 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 Lord Ganesh for permanent place for their market. With the consistent efforts & 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 12.09.1934. The idol was dressed in the customary fashion of fisherman. Since that day onwards, this Lord Ganesh has become popular as it fulfills the wishes of devotees. The Mandal was formed in the era when the freedom struggle was at its peak.
Due to the communal riots in 1946, orders were issued to change the route of this Ganesh Immersion Procession. But, the then office-bearers of the Mandal refused to change the route and, after 21 days, the procession was taken by the same route under the supervision of then Volunteers Pandurang alias Babu Sayle, M.S.Pawar and Dattaram Joshi. After independence, the agenda of the Mandal was modified and accordingly the Mandal decided to contribute in uplift of the Country. The Mandal donated its balance amount to the Kasturba Fund, the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Fund in 1947 and to Bihar Flood Relief Fund in 1959. The social issues were also highlighted in the plots during Ganesh Festival.
During Silver Jubilee Year 1958, two different plots viz. 'Geeta Upadesh' and 'Kaliya Mardan' were set for 5 days each. In this Silver Jubilee year, eminent speakers - like M.L.Patil-Hon’ble Minister of Bombay State, Hon’ble Ganapatrao Tapase, Hon’ble Govindrao Adik, Hon’ble Maloji Nimbalkar, Municipal Corporator Dr.Narvane, Govinrao Mahashbde-Dy.Editor Navakaal, Vasantrao Kate, Govardhandas Mapara of Kamgar Seva Sadan, Kakasaheb Tambe, - delivered speeches.
After 1958, the number of devotees of Lalbaugcha Raja increased substantially. Hence, in 1960, the entertainment programmes and speeches were discontinued. In the same year, 'Navaratri Utsav' was started and the programmes were organized during Navaratri Festival. These transitions were carefully and neatly carried out by Chandrakant Khadye, Chunilal Rathod, Pranjivan Mehta and Shankar More. During this period, Late Shri. Shamraom V. Bodhe handed over the Hanuman Temple to the Mandal.
During 1948 to 1968, the Mandal started some new traditions like 'Shri Satyanarayan Mahapooja', 'Pan-supari Samarambha (Get Together Function)'. The Get Together Function is the ceremony of felicitation by offering roll of betel leaf with betel nuts, known as Pan-Supari in Marathi. During this get together, eminent personalities of different fields, office bearers of various mandals and well-wishers are invited. This creates a friendly atmosphere for co-ordination & exchange of views for better performance of the festival and helps in improving relation among various mandals. In this manner, the mandal established a warm relationship with some mandals of Kumbharwada, Durgadevi Duncan Road, Kamathipura, Khetwadi, Navi Amrutwadi, etc. The participation of local mandals at night, was started to control heavy number of devotees.
During 1934 to 1968, Kunwarji J. Shah, Dr.V.B. Korgaonkar, H.B. Korgaonkar, Dr. U.A. Rao, Dr. Manju Madar, Ramchandra Tawate, B.D. Bandekar, Raghunath Khamkar, Pranjeevan Mehta, Rambali Halwai, Ram Jadhav were mainly responsible for development of the Mandal. The amount accumulated from the Mandal activities was mainly used for development of the nation. Mandal did its bit by contributing to the National Fund during floods at Bihar in 1959 and during the wars in 1962 &1965.
In 1969, new generation came up with wide view under the leadership of Late Shri Vasantrao Bhosale. Space requirement arose due to great extent of workload of the Mandal. In 1970, renovation of the Hanuman Temple was proposed. Accordingly, the renovation work was commenced in 1971 and completed in 1973, along with a new office for the Mandal. In 1975, Idol of Amba Mata (Goddess Amba) was established in the temple and the religious duties of Navratri festival were carried out in the temple, thereafter.
Since 1976, a part of the balance amount of the Mandal was deposited as 'Shikshan Imarat Nidhi'.
During the Golden Jubilee Year in 1983, an exhibition was arranged in which plots of last 49 years were displayed. This exhibition was an attraction for the devotees. In the get together function of this Golden Jubilee Year, the ex-office bearers were felicitated with momentous.
During the decade 1984 to 1993, the Mandal carried out many other constructive social works. In 1990, the Mandal contributed Rs.15,000/- towards 'Konkan Flood Relief Fund', established by the Express Group for the flood affected people of Jambhulpada, based in Konkan, Maharashtra.
It is the first mandal who contributed Rs.1 Lakh to the 'Army Central Welfare Fund', in 1999 for the families of the soldiers who scarified their lives to uphold the dignity of the Nation at Kargil and the same was handed over to then Governor of Maharashtra State, Dr. P.C. Alexander.
During this computer age, Mandal launched its website www.lalbaugcharaja.com in 2000. Hon’ble member of the Mandal Shri Bharat Bhujbal conceived with the idea and took efforts to fulfill it. The information related to the festival, the social activities of the Mandal and photo gallery of Lalbaugcha Raja is available on the website. This is very useful for the devotees located in various parts of world.
Visarjan Tarafa: Traditionally the Ganesh idols are immersed in water during its Visarjan. Hence in order to immerse the idol of Lalbaugcha Raja, Mandal always takes proper precautions so that the visarjan takes place in a manner the Raja deserves. Accordingly, after consulting some experts & experienced persons, Mandal has purchased a Tarafa (Iron Raft) which makes it possible to dissolve the idol of Lalbaugcha Raja in deep sea water, conveniently. The Tarafa is prepared by M/s. A.V. Engineering.
The small plant ploughed by old, wise members of the Mandal has been converted into a large tree. Now it is looked after by the new generation members by their dedicated work. This will definitely continue forever, with blessings of Lalbaugcha Raja.
[edit] Present Day.
Population: Prominently Marathi speaking with a smattering of Gujarati and North Indian.
Lalbaugcha Raja for fulfilling the Wishes(Navashacha).It was started by Koli women(Fisher woman of Lalbaug).
The Magic of Lalbagh Cha Raja
Lalbagh Cha Raja is a singular moment of Peace beyond religiosity, and it is a moment that as I walk with him from Lalbagh to Chinchpokli to Byculla to Clare Road to Nagpada and to Do Tanki Kumbhrawadi.. I see without blinkers as a Shia Pandit..yes if saffronization of my soul brings me closer to humanity so be it..I shoot Lalbagh Cha Raja or he shoots me with a dart that remains embedded as love for this great city Mumbai..
Over 100000 blogs and my wife complains why do yuou shoot the same thing over and over again - I have no answers, I dont sell pictures , I dont make money of my blogs I am a bankrupt..but I touch people far into the hinterland of cyberspace, people touch my feet , taking me to be a holy man , that I certainly am not, but I bow my head in humility..I found the camera to be the greatest instrument of Peace , so instead of throwing my grand daughter in a swimming pool when she was 3 month old I began teaching her photography..
And my grand daughter Marziya Shakir can perhaps shoot Lord Ganesha better than me ..through her innocence and her mind.
Many years back on the beach at Girgaum Chowpatty my camera was seized my digital card formatted , because I accidentally shot the Visarjan of Lalbagh Cha Raja , the Mumbai Police can be very heartless even though I have a Press Card.. I was in tears , when I returned home spoke to Subash Solanki, who asked me to send the card to him and I got back all the Lalbagh Cha Raja last journey pictures..some moments even the Mumbai Police can never delete completely..
वक्रतुंड महाकाय कोटिसूर्यसमप्रभ ।
निर्विघ्नं कुरु मे देव सर्वकार्येषु सर्वदा ॥
“Oh! Lord (Ganesha), of huge body and curved elephant trunk, whose brilliance is equal to billions of suns, always remove all obstacles from my endeavors.”
गजाननं भूतगणादिसेवितं कपित्थजंबूफलचारुभक्षणम् ।
उमासुतं शोकविनाशकारकं नमामि विघ्नेश्वरपादपङ्कजम् ॥
“Salutations to Lord Ganesha who has an elephant head, who is attended by the band of his followers, who eats his favorite wood-apple and rose-apple fruits, who is the son of Goddess Uma, who is the cause of destruction of all sorrow. And I salute to his feet which are like lotus.”
सुमुखश्चैकदंतश्च कपिलो गजकर्णकः ।
लम्बोदरश्च विकटो विघ्ननाशो गणाधिपः ।
धूम्रकेतुर्गणाध्यक्षो भालचन्द्रो गजाननः ।
द्वादशैतानि नामानि यः पठेच्छृणुयादपि ।
विद्यारंभे विवाहे च प्रवेशे निर्गमे तथा ।
संग्रामे संकटे चैव विघ्नस्तस्य न जायते ॥
Sumukha, Ekadanta, Kapila, Gajakarnaka, Lambodara, Vikata, Vighnanaasha, Ganaadhipa, Dhuumraketu, Ganaadhyaksha, Bhaalachandra, Gajaanana -
No obstacles will come in the way of one who reads or listens to these 12 names of Lord Ganesha at the beginning of education, at the time of marriage, while entering or exiting anything, during a battle or calamity.
शुक्लाम्बरधरं देवं शशिवर्णं चतुर्भुजम् ।
प्रसन्नवदनं ध्यायेत् सर्वविघ्नोपशान्तये ॥
“In order to remove all obstacles, one should meditate on (the Lord Ganesha) as wearing a white garment, as having the complexion like the moon, and having four arms and a pleasant countenance.”
मूषिकवाहन् मोदकहस्त चामरकर्ण विलम्बित सूत्र ।
वामनरूप महेश्वरपुत्र विघ्नविनायक पाद नमस्ते ॥
“Oh God who has the mouse as his vehicle, and the sweet modhaka (rice ball) in your hand, whose ears are wide like fans, wearing the sacred thread. Oh son of Lord Shiva who is of short stature and who removes all obstacles, Lord Vinayaka, I bow at your feet.”
Garbage Porn..Chinchpokli Road Bandra After Elections
Garbage Porn..Chinchpokli Road Bandra After Elections, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.
100,798 items / 634,864 views
the elections have come and gone
the minister in the saddle ..
wont see this garbage porn
for him new dreams
new hopes will be born
smelling like roses
chinchpokli road bandra
sticking out like a thorn
politics of divide and rule
a party v/s a rahebar khan
the disillusioned public
totally depleted and withdrawn
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Waiting for Dr Glenn
www.glennlosackmd.com/-/glennlosackmd/
waiting for the great white hope
dr glenn
in mumbai
one and a half men
me
appu my best friend
while the good doctor
in new york Manhattan
pondering
to go or not to go
heritage hotel
rajesh from tci
recommends
a trip to haji malang
on 21 feb 2010
down the mountains
of malangad he wends
the hijdas the eunuchs
the rafaees round the bend
moment like a bubble
in midair suspends
ashura in mumbai
at the amin imambada
swords cutting backs
as they bend
scourging blades
the flesh sweepingly
wont defend
at habib hospital
sword wounds
the doctors will tend
an invitation
to a Brooklyn jew
the shia pandit
extends
tears on the soul
of Fatima
in an an envelop
as a poem
he sends
APPU MY BEST FRIEND !
image courtesy
http://www.glennlosackmd.com/-/glennlosackmd/
Shot By Dr Glenn Losack MD at Mahim
Every Wednesday
this Muslim beggar
pint size
without hands
without legs
fights
the swarming
attacking
mumbai flies
a smile on his face
that never dies
he is hope
sitting on a kerbside
a stump of a disaster
minus thighs
growing from the street
he cant stand or rise
his life larger
than your web page size
through the humility
of worn out words
a pedestrian pain
to stylize
he is a reminder
of gods godliness
in disguise
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Durga The Goddess of Devotion
hidden in the soul of human emotion
a force that moves with a godly motion
durga the goddess of devotion
an ocean of love within an ocean
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Good Bye Simple Kapadia
100,767 items / 631,639 views
photo courtesy google images
I had called Simpleji a few weeks back , she told me she was in hospital in great pain but would get back to me , we were working on a project..that was her baby.
Simple Kapadia passed away yesterday..due to cardiac arrest..I offer my condolences to Dimpleji and the bereaved family..and her assistant Shefali too.
My poem as a tribute to her soul
good bye dear friend
you fought bravely
till the end
the pain
the hospital visits
you did not bow or bend
your indomitable spirit
of survival lives on
with the Maker
in heaven it blends
a sister like dimple
godsend
who stood by you
fighting valiantly
the time
with you
she spent
healing your soul
preparing you
for the final journey
like a mother
she did tend
yes on his mercy
we all depend
Monday, November 09, 2009
Mr Nulwalla of Hill Road Bandra
100,763 items / 630,256 views
Mr Nulwala is a Bohra gentleman with a sanitary ware shop on Bandra Hill Road..dealing in plumbing items.
Mr Nulwala is a devout Muslim , a devoted father and a grand father too..in the early years of his life as Mr Nulwala confessed to me he was not very religious and skipped namaz, his father stopped taking meals and went on a fast as protest , he told his son that Namaz is the soul of Islam..either you change your ways or I will starve myself to death..
The entire family was distressed and the threat paid , today Mr Nulwalas son Nur his grandson Idrat are all namazis rushing to the Badri Mosque at Bazar Road Bandra..
The Bohras of Bandra are very cultured , peace loving people that add dignity and grace to the cosmopolitan fabric of Bandra.
They have added to the cultural charm of old Bandra giving respect to the East Indian heritage and the gaothan surroundings they live in..I talk of the Bandra Bazar Bohras..
Bandra Bohras are very friendly, and stand by you in times of need or calamity.. Photographing this community , and His Holiness Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin has been the greatest joy..and my American photographer friend Dr Glenn Losack MD from Manhattan shot him too with the crowds running behind His Holiness's car..and Glenn just could not believe this spiritual euphoria of the crowds....he was totally awestruck with this experience of his lifetime.
Fuck Shoes
100,763 items / 630,256 views
Shoes from every production house lands up here on Bandra Hill Road , next to the Tata Agiary, this must be the only place that sells second hand shoes boots for ladies and gents and he has a flourishing business , among designers too , when an aged footwear is required for their client.
But larger than this and more famous than this is Dedh Gully at Kamatipura next to Hijra Gully No 1 .. the business starts at 1m and gets over by the wee hours of dawn , totally crowded on Friday ,,, and close by is the Kamatipura Flea Market ..
All the shoes stolen from Mosques and other religious functions find their way here , refurbished and sold , you can get any pair Bally ,Armani you name it they have it..
As I walk barefeet I never had the craze for this quintessential shoe plaza of the streets..you get some original army boots here , imported ones and local ones.
The kids make a beeline for this place .. an extension of this place is at Chimna Butcher Chor Bazar , but only a few stores remain..
During the making of Eena Meena Deeka a flm by David Dhawan produced by Nitin Manmohan of Neha Arts ..we needed to give the crowds only a single shoe , I got most of my stuff here..
Once upon a time I wore a black shoe and a white shoe as a fashion statement..but than my friend at Buzznet Debbie gave me a mantra .. that I follow Fuck Shoes..
And I have hardly used foul words ever since I joined Facebook..my pedestrian poem's too have tamed down.I have become more lenient towards adding friends on Facebook..
This Hill Road shoe stall is run by a couple and the kids chip in too.. dont miss this place close to the road that enters Chinchpokli Bandra from Bandra Hill Road.
The Buxom Beauty of Mumbai - Hijra Outlook
born
in the husk of a male body
dont judge the cover
of this book
the buxom beauty of mumbai
hijra outlook
a splendorous dish
that god did not cook
for a moment
he too was confused
a woman he mistook
reflecting his shortcomings
as an androgynous face
in the brook
he is what she is
by stealth by hook or by crook
a diva a prima donna
within the pages of a style book
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Scrounging for food
mans fall
pictorially previewed
man and his karma
always at feud
by misfortune
always pursued
clothes on his body
his soul totally nude
on the streets of despair
scrounging for food
beneath his feet
leftovers of life
bemoaning bestrewed
an optical illusion
innocent and shrewd
worthless often
overvalued
man a mirage
totally misconstrued
from his loins of hate
posterity
needs to be rescued
a verdict of war
on the soul of humanity
that he has issued
reneging religiosity
among his brood
man a dying product
of his mood
dedicated to ray framroze
my childhood friend since 50 years...
Shooting The Hijra Ethos
100,743 items / 628,303 views
a rebel
without a cause
a rolling stone
gathering moss
shooting
a treacherous terrain
hijra ethos
murdered masculinity
pretensions of a candyfloss
a poetic petulance and a pause
demystifying delusions
gender chaos
passion and pathos
a eunuch carrying
his androgynous cross
what goes down
must come across
two parallel lines
gone crisscross
testicular tragedy
gone for a toss
Friday, November 06, 2009
Jesus and Marziya Face To Face
humanity
the persecuted race
man
known by the color
of his face
white black brown
fighting for his space
killing mercilessly
leaving no evidence or trace
ashes to ashes dust to dust
sheer waste ..
on the soul of mankind
copy and paste
tears of despair
in bad taste
while godliness
watches shamefaced
over the years spiritual inquisition
spiritual bigotry spiritual terrorism
on the dead body of a unborn child
we have showcased
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Mona The Child Eunuch
100,722 items / 625,600 views
The night she was born
her fucked fate
she could not duck
tears on the soul
of mona the child eunuch
handed over to
the hijra community
be her biological parents
androgynously
forever stuck
neither boy nor girl
neither this nor that
a counterfeit currency
pass the buck..
stuck between
two parallel lines
accursed life of bad luck
like a lotus trapped in muck
on her dainty feet
enchained to trinkets
moonstruck
dancing the dance of death
at the mercy
of her stomach
awestruck society
hardly cares two fucks
the other side of midnight
a flower waiting to be plucked
The Bar Dancer Hijra On The Run
100,721 items / 625,551 views
to safeguard the city
from terrorists
the bar dancers
were booted out
never to ever return
the bar dancer hijra on the run
her curse the ministers
life did upturn
26/11
while the city burnt
a lesson hardly learnt
he deserved what he earned
the hijra dancer spurned
a macabre conspiracy
of hate by those
who govern
sodomizing their lives
turn by turn
a deaf and mute society
unconcerned
case is adjourned
REKHA, 23, used to dance at Thane's Valentina Bar before the authorities closed down dance bars and put her out of business.
But a new Bollywood film has raised hopes for her and others from Mumbai's famous dance bars, of a possible career in cinema for which several have been cast.
In August, authorities of Maharashtra state, of which Mumbai is the capital, closed down the dance bars, saying they corrupt young men and breed crime and prostitution in India's financial and entertainment hub.
PROSTITUTION
After the ban, many dancers went away to other states to find work while many more reportedly became prostitutes and thousands of others were left jobless.
'The state's decision has hit us hard,' Rekha told the Indian Express. 'Even those of us who were not into prostitution earlier have got into it - we just don't have a choice.'
Rekha's take-home pay is now a mere 200 rupees ($7.40) a day - a far cry form the 2,000 to 5,000 rupees she used to earn as a bar dancer.
But as a first step into the magic world of cinema, she doesn't feel she's done too badly.
Dozens like her have found work in the film Deepa Ki Tarannum, or Deepa's Music, that tells the story of a bar dancer's brush with crime, money and misery.
'We decided to take in some 30 bar dancers because we thought they could best portray their lives,' said Mr Ranjeet Sharma, the film's producer.
The lead role in the film, scheduled for a May release, is being played by Preeti Jain, a Bollywood newcomer who hit the headlines last year for allegedly hiring a hitman to kill a filmmaker.
'I'm excited (about the role) and I find it challenging,' Preeti said. The male lead is played by Hyder Khan, the younger brother of Bollywood heartthrob Aamir Khan.
Bar dancers said they think the film could open a new employment avenue for them.
'Since the ban, bar dancers have looked at Bollywood for work as junior artists. Looks like that option is opening up,' said Ms Varsha Kale, spokesman of the Bar Girls' Association.
'More filmmakers are also hiring bar dancers for roles in their films. This is because bar dancers are ready performers.'
Mr Sharma, from 3's Company, told the Indian Express he's planning another film with former bar dancers getting parts to play.
'I just approached these girls who were in distress and thought it would be better to take them into my story rather than do any research,' he said.
'They'll be able to reflect their life better on celluloid than any actress.'
- (Reuters)
www.despardes.com/lifestyle/2006/20060112-bar-dancers.htm
dedicated to akbar simonese
monsoon lover aka sudip da
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
The Shia Pandit and Gopal The Naga Sadhu
to
peace in a pod
yogic ling kriya
using a rod
gopal naga sadhu
at home with
shiva his lord
the shia pandit
cuts open his head
with a sword
a protest
against
a spiritual terrorism
on the sands of karbala
the ensuing yazidi fraud
he gave his head
but not his hand
as the eunuchs
led by shmr
watched
open jawed
i want to go to
hindustan
said the shah
where hope
humanity
hospitality
is not outlawed
where mankind
is equivalent
to children of god
ridding evil
ignorance
injustice
the only
rightful jihad
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Monalicious
monalicious
strikingly cruel
very vicious
an uncooked dish
very delicious
its in the deep
end of life's river
she fishes
for a good
husband
love peace hope harmony
to an unspeakable god
she wishes
sometimes a man
sometimes a woman
her dual identity she switches
in a competitive world of the hijra
her worldly assets she pitches
when he holds her
tenderly in her hands
its worth all the riches
but cruel fate
he picks up another
in the gutter her favors
he ditches
a hijra frailty
among hijra bitches.
a garden of doom
a cauldron of witches
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Happy Birthday Maheshwariji
100,720 items / 622,124 views
Beneath your Lotus Feet
Lies this photographers
poetic destiny..
what was hidden
you made him see
footprints
on the sands of time
as pictures
for posterity
unlocking a world
without a key
a holistic science
that touches and heals
we call it photography
Will The Hijra Ever Be Free ?
100,719 items / 621,953 views
gagged forever
bound to a
hate filled
discriminating
gender biased
society
will the hijra
ever be free ?
stigmatized
cursed
forever
by her
androgynous
ancestry
to be or not to be
a man with a soul
of a woman
a woman he cannot be
neither this nor that
his karmic destiny
an optical illusion of fate
he is not what you see
a mystical apparition
human and ghostly
enslaved
manacled
broken winged creature
from the burning fame
he cannot flee
a dance of doomed death
choreographing pain
involuntarily
Friday, October 30, 2009
Happy Birthday Cheru Jackson - Alpha Inventions
Happy Birthday Cheru Jackson - Alpha Inventions, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.
100,717 items / 620,958 views
I am perhaps the earliest subscribers of Alpha Inventions, and a great fan of its creator the magic man Cheru Jackson from Arizona..I hold Cheru as my great friend and a Blogger guide..he has changed the face of Blogs..on cyberspace..
He sent me a message that I posted as a Facebook note and share with all of you..
www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/note.php?note_id=1649...
Cheru Jacksons Birthday Present To Bloggers
Dear Valued Blogger,
October 31st is my 26th birthday and I think it would be cool do something for alphainventions.com users.
October 31st - November 7th 2009 all subscriber sites will be featured in the first reading cycle slot on alphainventions.com . Free users will be featured in the second slot. . The first reading cycle slot naturally receives the most unique readers, and this is the benefit. Be a nice webmaster by sharing! I know not many webmasters do such things, but this is alphainventions.com !
November 8th 2009 the reading cycle will return to normal or better. :)
If you have any ideas on how I can help out users more, please let me know. You tell I build. Simple.
A Few Tips: When describing your site upon submission it's very smart to use detail. Your link will appear across a network of sites in the same category. Many site owners are not aware of this. I'm currently working on giving this feature a boost. The webmasters with the highest rankings know what I mean by using details.
If you submit to the Art category, you wouldn't want your description to to show up "Art" on another site in your network. Details are what people need to be interested.
Help people like yourself using your mouse.
Be a fair blogger, and place an RSS feed of the category you submit to near the top of your blog if you want to help out sites in your network. I've recently included a feature in the RSS feed to help get your site bookmarked . alphainventions.com/rss Please. You can add multiple RSS feeds to your site for a unique mixture of targeted content (search engine food). Be sure to build up your network by leaving meaningful comments on sites you find on alphainventions.com When you give feedback, you get feedback.
Thanks
Cheru Jackson
alphainventions.com/subscribe
Alpha Inventions
4380 s. 109th e. ave #713
Tulsa Oklahoma 74146
United States
The Hijra With The Pouted Lips
100,716 items / 620,561 views
poignant pathos
a heart beat skips
pendulous movements
of her hips
the hijra with the
pouted lips
her inner pain
in a micro chip
her elusive hopes
as they rise and dip
feminine fragility
held to a hair clip
layer after layer
her clothes
they will strip
a libidinous lechery
they will unzip
a record in motion
they will flip
holding her
in a snake like grip
passionate lashings
of a whip
the hijra
her life of sexual hardship
embedded in the soul
of a filmstrip
man to man
a dichotomous courtship
an androgynous amorphous
strange kinship
round and round
a one way trip
the hijra playing to
the gallery
without a script
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
The Final March
100,713 items / 616,120 views
in days of old
nationalism
the spirit of freedom
was a torch
held high
service sacrifice
for the country
was the only cry
every man
for the nation
willing to die
things have changed
as time went by
now selling off the nation
is the politicians reply
mega bucks in kick backs
telgi scam every kind of con
by the next guy
towers reaching
god in the sky
the poor man
living in a pigsty
divide and rule
as they their trade
of hate bigotry ply
religion in the hands
of brokers who
hateful means apply
brother against brother
no outcry
while the nation bleeds
the defeated soul
lets out a sigh
Tears on The Soul of Meena Bazar
100,716 items / 618,549 views
Muslims love killing Muslims
by far
destabilizing the Peace
of the world a state of war
blood shed on a ripped door
a human tragedy guts and gore
bodies strewn on a wounded
floor misplaced martyrdom
via a bomb
placed in a car
tears on the soul of meena bazar
on the collective conscience
of Islam yet another scar
a bleeding crescent
of times that are
misplaced jehad
a lost cause
of a fallen star
a mothers womb
an unborn child
his memoir
Monday, October 26, 2009
Bollywood Sargam Powered By Yahoo To Steal Pictures
Bollywood Sargam Powered By Yahoo To Steal Pictures, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.
http://www.bollywoodsargam.com/search_yahoo_images.php?search_term=Doctor+Riyaz
You can see this site has taken my Flickr post Hardcore Sword Matam at Zainabia and you can download the picture too in spite of the space ball,and this site is powered by Yahoo that promotes stealing of our pictures .. Flickr belongs to Yahoo..and we are part of the Yahoo family getting a raw deal...
I am shocked to say the least...
Street Photography and God
100,713 items / 616,718 views
This was shot last evening from a moving rickshah that was taking me to Juhu to shoot the Chhat Puja 2009..I saw this as fast as fast can be,, and call it rapid reflex, I had her in my camera power ,entrapped forever.. a fleeting moment frozen as street photography.
I shoot as is were is basis, I will get a picture , a picture too has its own destiny..if I was destined to shoot it..
About Chhat Puja , I dont know if I was really in a mood of mind to shoot it , I was under terrible stress , I am relocating my shop , and nothing was falling in place, everything was against me , and my slow recovery due to viral fever, but I left it to the Almighty whose travel brochures I shoot free of charge..I promote his universal spirituality , I promote the diverse culture of my country..without seeking gain or profit or a room with a view in Heaven..and God does take care of me in more ways than one..
This one was for God..
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Mr Sanjay Nirupam and Me At Chhat Puja 2009
100,348 items / 615,278 views
I start a new set at my Flickr photo stream, Chhat Puja 2009 ..I shot it this evening, barefeet dressed like a tiger cub no pun intended...the latest flavor and statement post election in Maharashtra.
I shot from end of the beach to another,Mr Sanjay Nirupams podium was very grand and awesome, the entire crowd was watching the song recital from the beach, I met him took a few frames and left..
I have been shooting the Chhat Puja Festival from the time Mr Sanjay Nirupam placed it on the festival map of Mumbai in a very big way.
I have tried never to miss this festival , and today I was in real bad shape I have not recovered from my viral fever but I made it to the beach...overriding all odds.
About Chhat Puja from Wikipedia
Chhath (Hindi: छठ, also called Dala Chhath) is an ancient Hindu festival dedicated to Surya, the chief solar deity, unique to Bihar, Jharkhand and the Terai[1]. This major festival is also celebrated in the northeast region of India, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Chhattisgarh. Even in Tamil Nadu, the migrants from the north celebrate Chhath. Hymns praying to the sun can be found in the Vedas, the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism. Practiced in different parts of India, the worship of the sun has been described in the Rigveda.
The word chhath denotes the number 6 in Hindi [2]and the festival begins on the sixth day of the Hindu lunar month of Kartik, which corresponds to months of October and November in the Gregorian calendar (a week after Diwali). Chhath is the holiest Hindu festival of Bihar & eastern UP. It extends to four days.
The ancient Sanskrit epic Mahābhārata has references to Draupadi, wife of the Pandavas, worshipping the sun, which was believed to help cure a variety of diseases, including leprosy, and ensure longevity and prosperity of family members, friends, and elders. In addition, it is believed that Chhath was started by Karna, the son of Surya, who became a great warrior and fought against the Pandavas in the Kurukshetra War.
This is the only holy festival which has no involvement of any priest (Pandit). People celebrates this festival by thier own.
It is celebrated twice a year: once in the summers (May-July), called the Chaiti Chhath, and once in the winter (September-November) around a week after Deepawali, called the Kartik Chhath. The latter is more popular because winters are the usual festive season in North India, and Chhath, being an arduous observance, requiring the worshippers to fast without water for more than 24 hours, is easier to undertake in the Indian winters.
Chhath is mainly a Bihari festival, and so it is celebrated wherever people from Bihar have migrated. This is a ritual bathing festival that follows a period of abstinence and ritual segregation of the worshiper from the main household for four days. During this period, the worshiper observes ritual purity, and sleeps on the floor on a single blanket. The main worshipers, called Parvaitin (from Sanskrit parv, meaning 'occasion' or 'festival'), are usually women. However, a large number of men also observe this festival. The parvaitin pray for the well-being of their family, for prosperity and offspring. They can only perform Chhath if it is passed on to them from their older generation. However, once they decide to do it, it becomes their duty to perform it every year. The festival is skipped only if there happens to be a death in the family that year.
On the eve of Chhath, houses and surroundings are scrupulously cleaned. One the first day of the festival, the worshiper cooks a traditional vegetarian meal and offers it to the Sun God. This day is called Naha-Kha (literally, 'Bathe and eat'!). The worshiper allows herself/himself only one meal on this day.
On the second day, a special ritual, called Kharna, is performed in the evening after Sun down. On this day also, the worshiper eats his/her only meal from the offerings (Prashad) made to the Sun God in this ritual. Friends and family are invited to the household on this day to share the prashad of the ritual. From this day onwards, for the next 36 hours, the worshiper goes on a fast without water.
The evening of the next day, the entire household accompanies the worshiper to a ritual bathing and worship of the Sun God, usually on the bank of a river, or a common large water body. The occasion is almost a carnival. Besides the main worshiper, there are friends and family, and numerous participants and onlookers, all willing to help and receive the blessings of the worshipper. Ritual rendition of regional folk songs, carried on through oral transmission from mothers and mothers-in-law to daughters and daughters-in-law, are sung on this occasion. The same bathing ritual is repeated on the following day at the crack of dawn. This is when the worshipper breaks his/her fast and finishes the ritual. Chhath being celebrated at the crack of the dawn on a river bank is a beautiful, elating spiritual experience connecting the modern Indian to his ancient cultural roots.
The folk songs sung on the eve of Chhath mirror the culture, social structure, mythology and history of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Nowadays, modern Chhath songs, largely Bollywood film remixes have caught on, but the old tradition still goes strong with a great degree of sanctity. The three main linguistic regions of Bihar: the Maithili, the Magadhi, and the Bhojpuri, and all the various dialects associated with these, have different folk songs; but have an underlying unity in their dedicated to Chhath. The minor nuances of the Chhath rituals, such as in the Kharna ritual, vary from region to region, and also across families, but still there is a fundamental similarity.
[edit] Yogic Viewpoint
As per the yogic view point word Chhath is a compound of two words; Chah means 6 stages and Hath refers to the science of Hath Yog (austerity). The word Chhath refers to the process of consciously obtaining the solar energy through 6 stages involving the methods similar to Hath Yog. Hath here refers to the austerities like fasting, standing in water, etc. This entire process has been termed by the yogis as a Conscious Photoenergization Process having 6 stages.
Stage 1: Fasting and the discipline of cleanliness leads to detoxification of the body and mind. This stage prepares the body and mind of the Vratti (devotee) to receive the cosmic solar energy.
Stage 2: Standing in a water body with half the body (navel deep) in the water minimizes the leak of energy and helps the prana (psychic energy) to move up the sushumna (psychic channel in the spine).
Stage 3: Cosmic Solar Energy enters the Vratti’s pineal, pituitary and hypothalamus glands (Triveni complex) through retina and optic nerves.
Stage 4: Activation of Triveni (tri-glandular complex) Pineal, pituitary and hypothalamus
Stage 5: A kind of Polarization of happens in the spine, which results in the Vratti’s gross and subtle bodies getting transformed into a cosmic powerhouse. This can also lead to the awakening of the latent psychic energy popularly known as the Kundalini Shakti.
Stage 6: The body of Vratti (devotee) becomes a channel, which conducts, recycles and transmits the energy into the entire universe.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhath
http://www.flickr.com/photos/firozeshakir/4039306459/
Add a caption
Mr Sanjay Nirupam and Me At Chhat Puja 2009 100,348 items / 615,278 views I start a new set at my Flickr photo stream, Chhat Puja 2009 ..I shot it this evening, barefeet dressed like a tiger cub no pun intended...the latest flavor and statement post election in Maharashtra. I shot from end of the beach to another,Mr Sanjay Nirupams podium was very grand and awesome, the entire crowd was watching the song recital from the beach, I met him took a few frames and left.. I have been shooting the Chhat Puja Festival from the time Mr Sanjay Nirupam placed it on the festival map of Mumbai in a very big way. I have tried never to miss this festival , and today I was in real bad shape I have not recovered from my viral fever but I made it to the beach...overriding all odds. About Chhat Puja from Wikipedia Chhath (Hindi: छठ, also called Dala Chhath) is an ancient Hindu festival dedicated to Surya, the chief solar deity, unique to Bihar, Jharkhand and the Terai[1]. This major festival is also celebrated in the northeast region of India, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Chhattisgarh. Even in Tamil Nadu, the migrants from the north celebrate Chhath. Hymns praying to the sun can be found in the Vedas, the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism. Practiced in different parts of India, the worship of the sun has been described in the Rigveda. The word chhath denotes the number 6 in Hindi [2]and the festival begins on the sixth day of the Hindu lunar month of Kartik, which corresponds to months of October and November in the Gregorian calendar (a week after Diwali). Chhath is the holiest Hindu festival of Bihar & eastern UP. It extends to four days. The ancient Sanskrit epic Mahābhārata has references to Draupadi, wife of the Pandavas, worshipping the sun, which was believed to help cure a variety of diseases, including leprosy, and ensure longevity and prosperity of family members, friends, and elders. In addition, it is believed that Chhath was started by Karna, the son of Surya, who became a great warrior and fought against the Pandavas in the Kurukshetra War. This is the only holy festival which has no involvement of any priest (Pandit). People celebrates this festival by thier own. It is celebrated twice a year: once in the summers (May-July), called the Chaiti Chhath, and once in the winter (September-November) around a week after Deepawali, called the Kartik Chhath. The latter is more popular because winters are the usual festive season in North India, and Chhath, being an arduous observance, requiring the worshippers to fast without water for more than 24 hours, is easier to undertake in the Indian winters. Chhath is mainly a Bihari festival, and so it is celebrated wherever people from Bihar have migrated. This is a ritual bathing festival that follows a period of abstinence and ritual segregation of the worshiper from the main household for four days. During this period, the worshiper observes ritual purity, and sleeps on the floor on a single blanket. The main worshipers, called Parvaitin (from Sanskrit parv, meaning 'occasion' or 'festival'), are usually women. However, a large number of men also observe this festival. The parvaitin pray for the well-being of their family, for prosperity and offspring. They can only perform Chhath if it is passed on to them from their older generation. However, once they decide to do it, it becomes their duty to perform it every year. The festival is skipped only if there happens to be a death in the family that year. On the eve of Chhath, houses and surroundings are scrupulously cleaned. One the first day of the festival, the worshiper cooks a traditional vegetarian meal and offers it to the Sun God. This day is called Naha-Kha (literally, 'Bathe and eat'!). The worshiper allows herself/himself only one meal on this day. On the second day, a special ritual, called Kharna, is performed in the evening after Sun down. On this day also, the worshiper eats his/her only meal from the offerings (Prashad) made to the Sun God in this ritual. Friends and family are invited to the household on this day to share the prashad of the ritual. From this day onwards, for the next 36 hours, the worshiper goes on a fast without water. The evening of the next day, the entire household accompanies the worshiper to a ritual bathing and worship of the Sun God, usually on the bank of a river, or a common large water body. The occasion is almost a carnival. Besides the main worshiper, there are friends and family, and numerous participants and onlookers, all willing to help and receive the blessings of the worshipper. Ritual rendition of regional folk songs, carried on through oral transmission from mothers and mothers-in-law to daughters and daughters-in-law, are sung on this occasion. The same bathing ritual is repeated on the following day at the crack of dawn. This is when the worshipper breaks his/her fast and finishes the ritual. Chhath being celebrated at the crack of the dawn on a river bank is a beautiful, elating spiritual experience connecting the modern Indian to his ancient cultural roots. The folk songs sung on the eve of Chhath mirror the culture, social structure, mythology and history of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Nowadays, modern Chhath songs, largely Bollywood film remixes have caught on, but the old tradition still goes strong with a great degree of sanctity. The three main linguistic regions of Bihar: the Maithili, the Magadhi, and the Bhojpuri, and all the various dialects associated with these, have different folk songs; but have an underlying unity in their dedicated to Chhath. The minor nuances of the Chhath rituals, such as in the Kharna ritual, vary from region to region, and also across families, but still there is a fundamental similarity. [edit] Yogic Viewpoint As per the yogic view point word Chhath is a compound of two words; Chah means 6 stages and Hath refers to the science of Hath Yog (austerity). The word Chhath refers to the process of consciously obtaining the solar energy through 6 stages involving the methods similar to Hath Yog. Hath here refers to the austerities like fasting, standing in water, etc. This entire process has been termed by the yogis as a Conscious Photoenergization Process having 6 stages. Stage 1: Fasting and the discipline of cleanliness leads to detoxification of the body and mind. This stage prepares the body and mind of the Vratti (devotee) to receive the cosmic solar energy. Stage 2: Standing in a water body with half the body (navel deep) in the water minimizes the leak of energy and helps the prana (psychic energy) to move up the sushumna (psychic channel in the spine). Stage 3: Cosmic Solar Energy enters the Vratti’s pineal, pituitary and hypothalamus glands (Triveni complex) through retina and optic nerves. Stage 4: Activation of Triveni (tri-glandular complex) Pineal, pituitary and hypothalamus Stage 5: A kind of Polarization of happens in the spine, which results in the Vratti’s gross and subtle bodies getting transformed into a cosmic powerhouse. This can also lead to the awakening of the latent psychic energy popularly known as the Kundalini Shakti. Stage 6: The body of Vratti (devotee) becomes a channel, which conducts, recycles and transmits the energy into the entire universe.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chhath
Friday, October 23, 2009
Was God Incapable of Creating a Hijra !
100,347 items / 614,823 views
creating man was easy , creating woman was a bit complicated and god would have a gone a step ahead but time was short , far too short and creating the hijra god left to man , man engineered the hijra through his restless angst..the hijra is the most exotic creature holding two entities within one...
man created the hijra from his androgynous soul with an amorphous form, delicate, yet strong, the hijra is a born dancer the best in the world...they have mastered the technique pirouetting their lithe bodies on fire wind or air..
since the time i began shooting hjras i captured their fairy tale persona on wings..the most beautiful moments of a mujrewali hijra , is when she begins her make up, they would put the greatest stylist to shame,the transformation is poetry, than she enters the privacy of the kotha , kissing the floor , while the musicians begin their piece , madam fully decked pan juice reddening her lips she give a glint of a smile , a lot of pride for her protege..
the clients are rich overloaded bhais from dongri, null bazar , all in white clothes , the bulge of their country made pistols no pun intended..and with their cronies around them..the lights are dim , the tunes are sad , wife children , the rigors of hard day all forgotten,
the setting could be bacchu bhais wadi, congress house famous for mujra, or a cottage at Madh Island..the mujrewalis stay at hijra gully no1kamatipura, a sleepy lane populated by wagris and hijras..
i had taken my american friend dr losack md the furious physician, but the building was being repaired and my friend hijra guru zeenath was not around..hijra gully no 1 visit it once before you close your eyes..
so this is the enchanting world of the hijra nautch girl, even god could not create her she is a pure craftsmanship a masterpiece alas only in her hey days..
i met a lot of them over the years at haji malang during the urus, at peela house mumbai cages purely for pictorial reasons, and the greatest hijra abode ajmer sharif..
i met such beautiful dancing girls nameless but with beautiful faces ..kind hospitable and some arrogant conceited too..the hijra and my own soul is locked in a battle within the soul of a memory card..i knew a young nubile boy a shia he would meet me at govandi during moharam, or in town during our scourging , and than i met him , he had changed come to terms with his sexuality , he had become a full blown hijra..
hijras are articulate and can be crafty too, i have been lucky to befriend some of the most beautiful hijras, and show them to you without scars or blemish., they maybe wounded badly within..
i met the hijra bawas a very rare breed danced the kaif with my camera around my neck , went into a trance at char yar without any drugs..and the irony is i am able to touch the holy shrine in spite of my precarious position in life..ajmer beckons me moti katra, sola khamba i must be the only one who shots the hijras the bawas the malangs and the rafaees..
as i have stopped shooting ganesh visarjan at girgaum chowpatty ,i dont meet hijras any more , mostly from kamati pura , i have been following lal bagh ka raja instead from labagh to kumbharwada for two years barefeet..i am barefeet at ajmer and haji malang too.
why do i shoot hijras i wish i knew, they stalk my soul as i stalk their souls, hijras come in all sizes all shapes i have met hijras who wanted me to shoot them in their birthday suits i politely refused , this is not why i shoot hijras ..i hardly gives pictures of hijras i have shot the only hijra i made the exception was heena hijda queen from peela house , i gave her 200 copies ..
and heena loves me like no hijra has, and this is a pure sufi brotherly love she considers me like her elder brother, ..on ashura i cut my head very badly and the sahara newspaper carried my picture, heena called me to her quarters on 11 moharam , pleading with not to cut myself badly with tears in her eyes and this beautiful hijra was a few years back kidnapped by the greatest don of mumbai now dead..perhaps this why i shoot hijras not as a blogger not as a voyeur not as a photographer ..heena wanted me to come to raipur for a hijra conference she offered me a ticked boarding lodging but i could not accept her offer..
i have not met her since a very long time, she has changed her number too and i hardly go to town..the other hijra influence are the beggar hijras but i hare not met them too since a long time..i have cut down my blogging time at flickr, so perhaps this illness is making me empty out my bin of memories..
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Thank You Ya Khuda - Break Dance of Democracy Ends
Thank You Ya Khuda - Break Dance of Democracy Ends, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.
100,345 items / 614,282 views
Mr Baba Siddiqui erstwhile sitting MLA Mumbai Congress I/ NCP combine , won from the Vandre Constituency with a very slender margin defeating Advocate Ashish Shelar , since the results were announced there was some inter party skirmishes but the immediate arrival of the Mumbai Police saw calm and a greater calm prevailed at Bandra Bazar Road..basically it is vested interest bent on disturbing the canvas of peace of Bandra the Queen of Suburbs.
I did not shoot any pictures and thanks to the presence of the cops who were near my shop, there was a total ban on bursting of crackers..so the Congress Party NCP are back at the helm..let them bring constructive hope and solve the grievances of all concerned.
I met Advocate Ashish Shelar BJP who thanked me for shooting his rally..and hoped better luck in the next hustings and had the best regards for the winning candidate..
Now my poem
Ya Khuda
Break Dance
of Democracy ends
with your blessings
with your grace
the voter
the winner
to the Vidhan Sabha
sends ..
the loud mouthed losers
totally quiet
into the darkness blend
they have other jobs
to tend
choked
on the political
river bend
so many
fences to mend
for the sake
of the populace
their supporters
their friends
time to shake hands
make amends
the city
more important
than self on
good governance
good law and order
depends
please think
of the voters
in the hot sun
old poor very poor
who voted for you
some with their backs bent
some who never got their
voters cards were hellbent
the healing hand
is back in power
the homeless dont
torment
breaking their shanties
their tents
fires of divide and rule
dont foment
be kind to the north indians
treat them as
your own brother
without any evil intent
a new order
of peace hope and harmony
you must invent
thank them
with a nice Diwali present
Big Boss Are You Listening
100,344 items / 614,262 views
Its High Time they bought Laxmi Narayan Tripathi to the Big Bosses House bad memories erase ..She is Adab, Tehzeeb Deportment Charm and God given Grace..Beauty Brains and a Beautiful Face ..Hijda Goddess Queen of her Race ...She gives the other gender ample space , on national TV - respect culture she would showcase..
Beyond caste color or creed this human phenomenon people from all over the world will eagerly embrace..give her a chance the rest of the bunch she will outrace..and outpace..
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
If Wishes Were Horses Politicians Would Ride
100,343 items / 613,680 views
Tomorrow
22 October 2009
your vote
will decide
who wins
who loses
who falls
by the side
mumbai
amchi mumbai
our beloved city
already sucked dried
another round
of unfinished
diwali
cracking
your insides
false promises
false hopes
in the past
they have lied
when the city
was taken for
ransom
by terrorists
they slept
kicking our guts
our Indian pride
watching
the city burn
from the ringside
martyred policemen
innocent dead
unnecessarily died
we put a terrorist on trial
a reality show world wide
justice a lady blind eyed
politics corruption
often go side by side
new schemes
to squeeze the poor
the builders lobby
waiting eagerly
for the returns
on the crores
they supplied
politics is purely about
money power
jo jeeta woh sikandar
more bodyguards
for themselves
for the miserable poor
well god will provide
as for mumbai
totally shanghaied
Shot By Marziya On The Nikon D80
100,342 items / 611,433 views
Marziya Shakir is my 23 month old grand daughter ,she is aware of the camera, as she has seen me take her pictures since she was 2 days old, Marziya is a camera child, the camera has been bringing her life's story to all of you.
Marziya can hold the Nikon D 80 ..she holds it like a professional assisted by me , than she bends her head into the viewfinder , I help her press the trigger..
The exercise here is not just about making her a photographer , it is to instill in her the power of the camera the greatest instrument of Peace.
The only instrument that shoots and you live forever.
The camera that holistically heals all human souls.
Marziya is my first and last student , she has watched me shoot perched on my waist, shooting into crowds at Bandra, at a few religious events save Moharam.
She has yet not been exposed to the blood shedding rituals of my Faith..
She has seen street kids , the poor umbrella lady who sits at Bandra Reclamation or Appu the limbless guy at Mahim.
She has given them money her first baby steps towards charity.
Marziya knows how to put the memory card into the camera , she knows how to put the card into the card holder and will place it into the computer monitor accordingly..
I could make her shooting easy by placing the camera on the tripod and allowing her access to the trigger , but I have not done it as yet..I have just this camera so I am not taking any chances , assisting her makes my task easier.
Only time will tell how good a photographer Marziya Shakir will be a few years from now.
I was down with viral fever and flu and have just added text to the blank space of this post
Even Marziya was not well thanks to the endless bursting of crackers that went on till the wee hours of the morning, she has recovered ..
Monday, October 19, 2009
Waiting For Good Days To Come
100,342 items / 611,433 views
strings of silence
we strum
following
a silhouette
within
a poem
of good days
elusive
playing
hide and seek
as our
respective
soul goes numb
bollywoods most wanted
exiled
from filmdom
an eternity
of sartorial
dilemma
ad naseum
the call of uhuru
death
of individual
freedom
beyond
the mind
beyond
the flesh
a matrix
of confusion
unsolved
problem
waiting
for flowers
that wont blossom
waiting
impatiently
holding
a drowning straw
of good days
to come
dedicated to nabila khanam
The Cat's Tragic Diwali Tale
100,299 items / 610,695 views
lighting the path
all over bazar road
nobody heard his wail
crackers tied
to his tail
the human
festive season
to regale
his soul
with extreme
cruelty
they did nail
smoke fire to inhale
happy diwali
to you and yours
after a few
hits views
this pedestrian story
will soon become stale
this is his calm
his patience
in detail
as he sits
dreading
the next diwali
the cat
with a lizards
cut tail
pain
overblown
from a thumbnail
I saw this cat in the morning near my shop, as the lady who feeds cats pointed out his misery to me, I called for my camera and shot a few frames.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
The Hijra's Second Chance
100,298 items / 610,577 views
on shards of glass
on embers of coal
they dance
wanting society
to accept them
as humans
they deserve
a second chance
man loving man
ardh nari nareshwar
a spiritual romance
a few coins
thrown at their face
not even
a kindly glance
miscarriage of birth
karma in a trance
a beggars bowl
no advance
a deadwood future
the state wont finance
dedicated to Kalki Subramaniam.. my facebook friend..activist and a lot more..
Hijra The Missing Link
100,298 items / 610,577 views
two parallel lines
on the brink
hijra the
missing link
no voter rights
neither man nor woman
a system
to hoodwink
a finger
without ink
into the depths
of depravity
they sink
begging alms
prostituting
their androgynous souls
a poison
day in day out
they drink
the filth
the stench
the stink
like the aravanis
of Tamil Nadu
blessed by God
and the State
Maharashtra
mai baap
at sachivalya
too must rethink
better opportunities
jobs in sync
the hijras are human
ghungroos on their feet
on the soul of androgyny
as they clink
basic rights that shrink
broken headlights
that blink
born a man
he chose the color
pink
a link sent by Stephe Androgyne online
Daily News & Analysis, India
www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_eunuch-seeks-right-to-vote...
Eunuch seeks right to vote in Maharashtra Assembly polls
PTI
Sunday, September 13, 2009 11:53 IST
Mumbai: An eunuch has moved the Maharashtra State Human Rights
Commission (SHRC) seeking the right to vote for his community and
transgenders in the forthcoming state Assembly polls.
In the four-page complaint, Laxmi Narayan Tripathi termed the denial
of Right to vote as gross violation of Human Rights in the state.
Supported by a group of four law students, Tripathi demanded that the
state government should extend the fundamental right of voting to
eunuchs and transgenders.
"There is a gross violation of the human rights of eunuchs in
Maharashtra. We are not provided with ration cards and not permitted
to vote," the complaint said.
The SHRC has issued notices to the chief secretary of the state
government with a direction to ensure that departments concerned with
ration cards and voter ID cards file their reply to the complaint by
November 4.
The commission has also directed the state government to suggest in
their reply affidavit steps being taken or to be taken with this
regard.
"Tamil Nadu government has already issued ration cards to the eunuchs
of that state. It is the only state to have recognised eunuchs as a
different sex," said the complaint.
Tripathi further said that eunuchs in Maharashtra are deprived of
life, liberty and dignity.
"If we (eunuchs) are not given a chance to lead a normal life then we
are left with the ultimate choice of begging or prostitution to earn
money," the complaint states.
The commission had directed the state government to file its reply to
the complaint by August 24 but the government failed to do so
following which they have been given time till November 4.
The students -- Niraj Marjadi, Dharampal Dave, Jay Vakil and Kushal
Mehta -- had earlier this year, filed an RTI application before the
Maharashtra State Election Commission seeking to know the rights
accorded to eunuchs in the state.
"However, the election commission returned the RTI application back
saying that they cannot reply to such applications," Dave said.
Dedicated to the spirit of gutsy Laxmi Narayan Tripathi my erstwhile Hijra Guru..
Bacche Bazi - Laundebazi
picture courtesy Google images
My friend Stephe from Androgyne Online sent me a link that I share with you.
Bache Bazi is keeping young boys as paramours in Afghanistan and other Central Asian countries..
But here in India it existed too among the Nawabs of various Royal estates.
The place that was synonymous with such a sexual preference was Avadh now Lucknow.This practice was called Laundebazi, and was as common as the Mujra and the courtesan. It was the flavor of the time and came with the trappings of the Nawab and his birth, Kabutar Bazi , Patangbazi all had their home in Lucknow..
Nawabs guarded their pretty boys , took care of them , kept them in distant safe houses away from other pretty boy poaching Nawabs I am told..Stories of this practice were told to me by an old gentleman who is long dead and was close to few libidinous dissipated nawabs with love of boys, he was from Lucknow and told me stories of intrigue, conspiracy all centered round the little pretty boy.
Laundebazi is almost out of the closet , with young guys flaunting their love for same sex lovers quite openly.And in modern Lucknow Laundebazi can be a very derogatory and abusive term..Laundebazi was the rich mans pastime , his laid back attitude, and the person concerned could be a happily married Nawab.. did not matter ..it was another right of passage towards Adab Tehzeeb and Nawabi shaan..
This subject of Laundebazi is hardly talked about nowadays..There was one eminent person who could have enlightened me on this practice but I never had time to broach this topic than.
I visited Lucknow for a few days to perform my religious rites and returned.
Respect for alternate sexuality , my Hijra blogs are all a recent happening , I have gay friends , hIjra friends and a Guru, but my straight orientation never bothered them , nor have they tried to over impose their own sexual preference on me..
And Stephe always sends me links that with my limited knowledge I try to upgrade with my own thoughts and the life I have seen .. in 55 years.
And this too becomes a part of a series on Flickr , a set called Cross Dressing the Soul of Man..
Stephes link
Guardian, UK
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/12/dancing-boys-afghani...
The dancing boys of Afghanistan
It was an ancient tradition banned by the Taliban but now it's back:
Ghaith Abdul-Ahad reports from northern Afghanistan on the hiring out
of young male dancers by older men
Ghaith Abdul-Ahad
Saturday 12 September 2009
[Photo: Private dancer: The practice of bacha bazi ('boy for play') is
growing in Afghanistan. Photograph: Ghaith Abdul-Ahad]
The night's rituals unfolded slowly. In a small house in a village
near the town of Taluqan in northern Afghanistan, a dozen men huddled
in a cold, dark room, wrapped in thick blankets and squatting on red
cushions. The wind sliced through a plastic sheet nailed to a wooden
frame in the mud wall, and a strong aroma of hashish lingered in the
air.
A young boy brought a small metal pot, poured warm water on the men's
hands and dried them with a small, stinking towel. Dinner was served:
plates of meat stew, thick loaves of bread and bowls of yogurt. Then,
when the meal was over, one of the guests opened his sash and pulled
out four small bottles of Tajik vodka. Solemnly and with
half-embarrassed smiles, the men raised their glasses, whispered,
"Salamte" and drained them.
As more vodka was drunk, the party grew louder. Its host – a former
Taliban commander now in alliance with the Afghan government and
Americans – chatted jovially to his guests, mainly local farmers and
shopkeepers. Then one of the men produced a sitar and a dancer entered
the room.
Dressed in a flowing shirt and long, red skirt, with sherwal pants
beneath and small silver bells fastened to hands and feet, the dancer
stepped across the floor, face hidden behind a red scarf. The bells
chimed with the movement, the skirt brushing past the watching men who
stretched out their hands to touch it. The sitar player sang loudly, a
love song about betrayal. The dancer twisted and sang hoarsely with
him, arms thrown high above a lean, muscular body, moving faster and
faster until finally the scarf dropped, revealing a handsome young
man's face with traces of a moustache and beard. One of the men
quickly grabbed the scarf and started sniffing it.
The practice of taking young boys to perform as dancers at private
parties is known as bacha bazi (literally, "boy for play") and is an
Afghan tradition with very deep roots. Under Taliban rule, it was
banned, but it has crept back and is now widespread, flourishing also
in the cities, including the capital, Kabul, and a common feature of
weddings, especially in the north. The bacha dancers are often abused
children whose families have rejected them. Their "owners" or
"masters" can be single or married men, who keep them in a form of
sexual slavery, as concubines. The bachas are usually released at the
age of 19, when they can get married and reclaim their status as
"male", though the stigma of having lived as a bacha is hard to
overcome. The Afghan authorities and human rights groups are aware of
the plight of bacha boys, but seem powerless to stop it.
In an adjacent room, 16-year-old Mustafa was preparing to dance next.
His owner opened a small bundle of clothes and produced a long, blue
skirt, crimson shirt, leather straps and bells. Mustafa stood on a
table and nervously smoked a cigarette. Holding his thin arms over his
head, he allowed two bearded, turbaned men, giggling and laughing, to
dress him like a doll. One combed his long hair, and invited the other
to have the "honour" of wrapping the straps around his hands and feet.
Later, when he had finished his performance, Mustafa told me his
story. "My grandfather kept telling me when I was a child to be
careful of men because I was handsome," he said. "One day a mechanic
in the town attacked me, my family rejected me and I had to go and
stay with that man. Now I am with someone else and he taught me how to
dance." He spoke matter-of-factly, then started explaining in great
detail about where he buys his women's clothes. How did he feel about
the men dressing him? "It's OK," he said.
In Kabul and other Afghan cities, bacha bazi CDs and DVDs are widely
on sale from street stalls and carts, serving an audience who can't
afford the real thing. In many of the cafes, men sit drinking tea and
watching grainy images of boys dancing.
Most of Kabul's musicians congregate in the southern part of the city,
an area that was half destroyed by the civil war. In a crumbling
hotel, an aged guard opened a gate that led to a dark staircase
surrounded by metal grilles. The air was damp and heavy with the smell
of hashish, opium, urine and burned oil. On the first floor was a
small hall and a few rooms, with shoes and flip-flops piled high
outside. On Thursday afternoons, dancing boys and their owners come
here to wait for clients to hire them for weddings or parties.
The hotel was crowded with musicians and singers, including 30
Pakistani Pashtun musicians who had come to Kabul to seek refuge from
the clampdown in the north-west of their country. One, his hair parted
with a ruler in the middle and greased with cream, told me, "The
Afghans like us as much as their own musicians. Even Kendeel Kuji [a
famous Pakistani singer] is here."
In the same room I met Habib, a dancer, dressed in a spotless white
salwar kameez. Two gold rings decorated his manicured fingers. His
face was plump and he had a thin, well-groomed moustache above thick,
red lips. Why did he start dancing? "I love it. No one forced me to do
it – I love it."
When he was 13, he said, his family disowned him, so he went with his
lover to Peshawar, fleeing the Taliban. "There I learned how to dance.
We could do everything there; I could dress like a woman and dance.
Here in Kabul we can't do much: I can only put some red on my lips and
dance." He stroked his face with his delicate hands and pushed back
his hair with a shake.
After the fall of the Taliban, Habib came back and settled in a small
hotel near Kabul. "People accuse us of being homosexuals and
transsexuals, but we are not," he said firmly. "We are not trying to
be women, we are just dancers. Some men like my dancing and give me
tips, but other men like to do other things with me. I have to be
careful – they can be dangerous. I know how to manoeuvre to take their
money and not let them harm me."
Why did he think other young boys dressed as women and danced?
"Because men like women and they are not available, so we act like
women. We wink at the rich men in the room, we excite them and they
pay us. Two weeks ago, in a town north of Kabul, the elder paid me
4,000 Afghanis [around £49]. But after the programme I had to shout so
he would be embarrassed in front of other people, because he wanted to
do things with me. Sometimes we get a lot of money. Sometimes we have
to spend the night with them and they don't give us anything.
"I am normal, but I like to walk and talk and to perform like a woman.
Once, a man offered me $20,000 [£12,250] to become his lover and stop
dancing, but I said no because I love to dance. I took only $1,000.
Now we are together. Yes, he is married. But he still likes me."
Sweet Memories of Childhood
100,295 items / 609,961 views
Sweet Memories
of childhood
a time very good
touch wood
innocence
a path
to truth
never
misunderstood
childhood
as saintly
as spiritual
as sainthood
childhood
the best
passage of our life
under the grace
protective shadow
serenity
of godhood
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Diya Jale
100,288 items / 609,630 views
somewhere far away
someone has something
to say through
the silence of her soul
lighting the darkness
on the way like
a little
diya made of clay
roshni de aur khud jale
stream lighting
hope without word play
of lost moments gone astray
in the wilderness of a lonely mind
searching for happiness everyday
Friday, October 16, 2009
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