Chhat Puja Pride Of Bihari Migrant In Mumbai..2010, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.
152,762 items / 1,187,923 views
I came barefeet to Juhu Beach to shoot the Chhat Puja 2010 an event I have passionately shot since several years to document the migrant Bihari ethos and culture , of a community that has made Mumbai its home and is considered one of the most peaceful one in our beloved city, , the Bihari migrant is a tale of hope on the move and integrity determination to make it big at all cost and give their children a much better chance than they ever had..
The Biharis face persecution, but take everything in their stride and gradually become a integral part of society or state they adopt.
The Bihari ethos is kept alive by the Chhat Puja dedicated to Chhat Maiya the deity of fertility and bright hope ..
This year I reached the beach at 6 pm thanks to the neck to neck traffic and missed a lot of stuff , the crawlers or earth markers worshipers of the Sun God.
But this year I decided to pay tribute to the common Bihari and kept myself away from the political jamboree on the Juhu Beach.
I dedicate this new set to my earthly Guardian Angel of all times Mrs Punam Sinha wife of Mr Shatrughan Sinha , born in a Sindhi family she has kept the pride of Bihar and its heritage alive , her children have been groomed nurtured on the Bihari culture and folklore ..respect for elders polite talk Adab and Tehzeeb made in Bihar.
And I must confess here as a Muslim blogger who shoots Hope and Hindutva as a message of Peace , that if ever my house fell apart all the bricks of my house may have Allah written on it but one brick would have Ram written on it too, as every time in life whenever I changed my house or took a new shop on rent I would take a small token of Rs 100 from the Sinhas to add to my hard earned money when moving into a new place.
This has been the Mantra of my humility and a reciprocal response of love from the Sinhas to my family ..a family that is my extended family since 25 years or more.
And Mrs Punam Sinha entrusted me a Muslim worthy to carry the token of her gratitude to Lal Bagh Chya Raja before the release of Dabbang..she had given me Rs 5001 , 5 tickets of Dabbang first day first show and ladoos that I asked my good friend Raju Langewal of the Lalbagh Chya Raja Pandal to place at the feet of Lal Bagh Chya Raja at the first Art to the King Of King Of Mumbai..
I shoot the Lalbagh Chya Raja first day first show before his presence is made public at the Press Meet .a day before .
The rest is history and Sonakshi Sinha has arrived..with Da Bang.
Happy Chhat Festival to All of You
