I-Rock Mumbai 2012

Muharram 2012

I am sharing my experience of Muhorram, I do not want to fall in a debate whether the religious activities that are carried on are right or wrong.  In my opinion my experience of Muhorram was outstanding. The energy, unity, synchronization, music, poetries is something that touched my heart.

I came across a post online, which said Muharram Procession on 24th Nov 2012, starts from 6:00 p.m., it fascinated Amit and me and since then we both wanted to cover this event.  Initially Amit was nervous about me going to this event because we heard people say that it gets very crowded and men hit themselves with knives and a lot of blood is shed.  One guy even told Amit that its risky to get female photographers as he quoted “you don’t know what you are getting into!”  But all thanks to Amit’s friend Adil and his friends who took responsibility and helped us get to this event. The more restrictions the more it excited me and finally here we were! 

Dressed in black pants and t-shirt with a stole, we reached Dockyard road station around 6:00 p.m. My heart kept thumping as I started to hear slight sound of music.  The sound level increased as we moved closer to the event.  The beat of drums and the way music was sung was outstanding.  I got goose bumps by the whole energy. It was amazing to see so many people, ladies dressed in total black separated from men on either side.  Amit and I also split up and decided to meet after the event.  

I thought I would get better angle from top so I decided to go on the 1^st floor of the building.  Ladies were all set and ready for the event.  The views were locked and there was no space for me to walk through or click.  I felt like an alien, everything was so new and unknown, so many restrictions and one mistake and I could hurt their sentiments. I had to be very careful all the time. But, to my surprise the ladies turned out to be real sweethearts, they gave me space and helped me so I could get better photographs, few of them even posed for me, one lady explained me in detail of what was about to happen and where I can get better pictures. I took her advice and went downstairs.  The kids were hanging on the railing while few sitting on the walls.  The energy started to build up, more and more people joined, light was shadowed, it all started then. 

Suddenly, guy started singing and everyone burst into tears, men started hitting their heads so hard that blood oozed out while females hit their chests.  The whole crowd was mourning.  One by one people carried Tajia.  The procession started and I could see knives with blood. 

Slowly men started moving out and I got space to sneak in and capture the juloos.  From kids to matured men, they all had knives and hit them in a certain way where in your back is cut and blood is splattered.  The ground was flowing with red liquid.  Since I was very close, blood even splattered on my hands.  Its incredible to see the amount of tolerance these guys have, to me even a small cut or bruises hurt so much.  It is just amazing and unreal to believe it until I saw it with my own eyes!!!  Hats off to all these people!!!!

Banganga, Mumbai

18th Nov 2012, since Mumbai was declared bandh due to death of Bal Saheb Thackery, Amit, Chirag and me decided to explore the streets of Mumbai.  The real beauty of Mumbai was seen that day when all shops were shut, not a dog on the road, pollution free, empty roads almost unbelievable. We took exactly 14 mins to reach Kurla (W) from Andheri (W) :) :) :) 
One such place we have been willing to visit since a long time was Banganga !  The rectangle pool of holy water is located near the edge of the Arabian Sea at the southern tip of Malabar Hill, amidst modern-day skyscrapers and encroaching urbanization.  The pool is surrounded by wide stone stairways on all four sides.

The local kids were seen enjoying cricket match. It was great pleasure to just sit around relax and enjoy them play. They had their own rules. Direct hit inside the pool was out. Two kids were seen with a net attached to a wooden log who would pull out the ball from the pool. The kids were smart enough to use two balls ;)