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“Sacred Spaces” by Samina Qurashi

“Sacred Spaces” 
Abid Ahsan
The first project that came my way was from Mrs.SaminaQureshi. She was then writing a Book on Sufism and for that she requiredpictures of various “Darbars” and “Dargahs” of Punjab. She took me to main mirand gave me a guideline of what she wanted for her book Sacred Spaces”.
It was important for me tounderstand her vision of the various shrines. But for then onwards I was on myown. This project took me to data darbar, inner wall city of Lahore, Masjidwazir Khan, Main Mir, baba bulleh shah’smazar in kasur to different shirnes of multan. Being just a photographer I hadno idea what I was about to experiences. What inspired me was not the structureof those buildings but also the essence of mysticism that is present there andwhich one cannot escape. I wanted my pictures to speak, to tell a story so thatviewers could feel and experience the same essence of Sufismwhich I felt. I wanted to click the camera at the right time, to capture theright moment for that I for that I had to spend hours at these shrines, evennights. I met and interviewed Various Malangs who had spent almost all theirlift in these quests of the divine. I spend nights under the open sky toexperience the right spirit of Sufism. I remained at theses shrines for manydays to capture the color, tradition & culture of the places.

The Book SacredSpaces”. Was also talked about thearchitecture of these places. Therefore pictures had alsoto be taken from all angles. Since the structure too symbolizes certainmeanings that are explained by the author in the book. 

The sufi is one who is a lover of Truth,who by means of love and devotion moves towards the Truth, towards theperfection which all are truly seeking, intention to go towards the Truth, bymeans of love and devotion. the spiritual path or way towards God. 

After a great experience for mine it taught methat a sufi is one who is a lover of truth, who by means of love and devotionmoves towards the truth, towards Perfection which all a\re truly seeking,intention to go towards the truth by means of love and devotion. In doing so itbecomes a spiritual path or a way towards GOD. In my entire picture which was published in the book “Sacred Spaces” I tried to capture the same essence the waytowards god through symbolically meaning.
“Sacred Spaces” by Samina Qurashi
Published:

“Sacred Spaces” by Samina Qurashi

Photography for book

Published:

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