Chehlum

The sword matam is quintessentially part of Shia Mumbai..and just two places I love to shoot Amin Imambada on Ashura and Rehmatabad Shia Cemetery on Chehlum day.

Archive 2009-09-01 photographerno1 2009

I asked him to shoot my hallowed head, the seat of my pedestrian knowledge , the fountain of my flowing blood when I cut my head twice a year with a sword during Ashura and Chehlum in Moharam .

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She has seen me come home with a bandage on my head but it never bothered her , the dagger I use to cut my head during Ashura or during Chehlum does not belong to me , I use the same one that is used by others too, all belonging to my good friend Habib Nasser pioneer of the Iraqi Kama Matam in Mumbai.

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I kept telling this kind officer he looked very much like Senior Inspector Baig of JJPolice Station, I shot at the JJ Hospital during Ashura and Chehlum procession during Mohaam.

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I was invited to the 40 Chehlum Majlis of late Yusuf Bhaijaan or Yusuf Ajani by his son my dear friend Raju Shresta also popular as Master Raju.

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Mr Bundeally of Dongri was another veteran of the Iranian sword Matam during Chehlum but he has retired due to his age ..

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I cut my head twice an year once during Ashura and again during Chehlum..40 day of Moharam.

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My only wound inflicted on my right hand during Chehlum in Delhi cut my tendon, thereby making my right hand partially useless, I type with one finger of this hand which is now shaped like the closed hood of a striking cobra..

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They are the pioneers of the Iraqi Kama Matam in Mumbai both during Ashura and Chehlum.

Archive 2009-09-01 photographerno1 2009

It was at Delhi during Chehlum - Moharam while cutting myself again , someone grabbed my sword from my hand thereby cutting a vital tendon of my hand ..this turned gangrenous on my way to Mumbai, my blood sugar was over 500 so I went to SL Raheja Hospital , and was treated by Dr AG Talwalkar ..

Archive 2009-09-01 photographerno1 2009