MUHARRAM OR TAZIA FESTIVAL...

4th NOVEMBER 2014.

this is a muslim festival ( festival is not the right description),

it commemorates the battle of KARBALA when 

IMAM HUSSEIN, 

a grandson of prophet MUHAMMAD, 

was killed.

i was fortunate enough to be able to go into the local muslim colony, and see some of these beautiful structures being made. 

i went last year, for an hour, and knew i wanted to return this year, but with more time to wander around.

how i would have loved to wander, by myself.

 i know, i would have got lost, and not known where these TAZIA'S where being built .

they were in alley ways, then behind locked gates. 

1st NOVEMBER...

i went with MAJID, he is well known in his colony and about 60 + years.

speaks english, so we got on well.

these structures can  also be made by children, making their own little ones,

 or

HUGE STRUCTURES

made by many different hands, over many months.

they are constructed from BAMBOO POLES.

the beginning of a BEAUTIFUL TAZIA.

i got inside the structure.

split bamboo, then covered with tissue paper.

this is the first layer of decoration.

close up of a little tower.

it would have been 8'' high.

such detail.

here is MAJID standing inside a shed.

i told you, i would never have found them by myself.

this is layer 3 & 4.

the silver paper, is MICA.

purple cellophane paper

decoration for the very top.

a large drum, outside the building where this one is being made.

MAJID on the left. 

a QUIET ACHIEVER.

isn't it a WORK OF ART.

another TAZIA.

close up of cellophane paper, mica & silver paper.

see the BIG DRUM on the right.

another TAZIA. 

a smaller one.

equally beautifully made.

photo ! photo !

here's the mobile number if you want.

9887861119

LET ME KNOW IF I WAS ABLE TO HELP ANYONE.!

photo! photo!

little children enjoying themselves.

this photo taken on 4th november.

it is taken from the vaults of the CITY PALACE.

every year for this special occasion.

it is displayed at the entrance gates of the PALACE.

SOLID SILVER.

it is not huge, it would fit into a good size en suite bathroom.

made in the 18th century.

another smaller TAZIA, photo taken from car window.

another TAZIA,  and very noisy boys, having a great time.

wonder if they went to the 

MERRIEGE BEURO ?

another, speeding by.

report from the HINDI PAPER.

just look at the crowd. 

you can't blame me for not attending.

another HINDI PAPER.

the TIMES OF INDIA PAPER.

MAJID & HIS WIFE.

against the lovely wall.

some of the women in the home, make & decorate LAC bangles.

lac is a resin from a tree.

the purple bangles,before EXTRA BLING is applied.

AFTER, the BLING. 

in full production for WEDDING SEASON..

if small thin pieces are needed, then the bamboo is split.

the split pieces are cut, bent, joined with glue and strung together.

then they are  

decorated with coloured paper, tinsel, mica, tissue paper.

there seems to be 4 LEVELS to the structures. 

all have a purpose and a meaning.

the structures are STRONG, HEAVY & COLOURFUL.

before the final assembling of the 4 levels, the base is put on a trailer, then the other 3 layers are added.

when majid took me into these places, i needed to very quickly access the photo angles and take them, as within a few minutes of me entering the space, 

i was like the HONEY POT, 

and drew a crowd of men and children. 

then it was nearly impossible to move around.

then the usual request,.PHOTO . PHOTO.

while this is going on, there is a lot of beating of drums.

little children, also have their TAZIA and drums.

the making of the TAZIA'S continues till 4th november.

that day (tuesday) great crowds of muslim's came from outlaying villages and towns. 

they come in cars, buses, bikes, motor bikes and some on foot.

after 3.00pm, a few of the roads , near the festival grounds are closed.

only open to foot traffic.

and , wasn't there  a lot of people & families i saw, just walking.

the people were walking along, some are beating drums, some with small TAZIA'S and it is all a very noisy affair.

about 9.00pm that night, i was taken to the major road intersection, to see some of the TAZIA'S 

being transported to the festival grounds.

here, there is a real air of festivities. 

i went last year during the day.

it was like a little town show.

Ferris wheels, pin the tale on the donkey, air rifles, food, sell trinkets etc.

i would never have gone at night, as the crowds of people would have squashed me.

i chose to see the photos in the TIMES OF INDIA , the next day.

as, i said earlier,i would have loved to have been able to wander by myself.

i recall 2 photos i missed.

1. a cow, where the white marking on the head is, that area had been henned.

so she had a BRIGHT ORANGE patch.

2. two old men, sitting on a step, next to each other, with their white crotchet prayer caps on.

looking very intently & very closely at their new bottles of medicine.

then majid, took me to his home.

meet the large family. 

drank chai.

i knew i would be going to his home, so i packed my portrait lens, and got them all organised to have their photos taken.

the little children understood, straight away, to stay in line,

stand against this wonderful textured wall, and just look into the lens. 

ONE CLICK...

next child.

ONE CLICK...

next child.

by then, the adults understood and they lined up.

i am really happy with the results. 

still trying to find out, if someone in majid's home has a computer, so that i can put them on a pen drive ( thumbdrive) and give.

this was an experience, that is not available to many people, so i was privileged.

( i don't know how the photos got inserted where they are, but, that is where they are staying)

ARE YOU WONDERING WHAT HAPPENS TO THE TAZIA'S AT THE END OF THE EVENING?

well!

a large hole, has been dug, with an excavator ( during the day) , then in the early hours of the morning (5th) 

the TAZIA'S are bulldozed into the hole and buried.

JUST LIKE THAT....