Sticky in Chennai

This building in the distance is the tomb of Hali Aji, the final resting place of a well known Muslim ‘saint.’  We are not sure what makes him noteworthy, but his tomb is a major holy sight in Mumbai.  The ten minute walk from the road to his tomb is both a fascinating and difficult experience.  The entire walkway is lined with severely disabled, maimed and disfigured beggars providing opportunities for people to demonstrate their benevolence with a few tossed coins on their way to pay homage to Hali Aji.   

During the walk we passed several small circles of beggars with missing, burnt or terribly palsied limbs, gustily yelling out synchronized religious chants to Allah.  To see these people lying down on the concrete half-naked, fully exposed to the sun and intentionally displaying their deformities was a startling sight to say the least.   There is no need for me to describe all the beggars we saw; let’s just say that some of them are best left un-described.  It was not an easy walk.

We also saw some people whose business was to provide small change for large bills so passing pilgrims would have an easier time distributing their charity as far and as wide as possible.

But it was not all bad. As the walkway was right on the sea, we enjoyed a refreshing breeze.  I would like to describe to you Haji Ali’s tomb itself, but for some reason I can’t remember it at all.  Esmerelda says that she most remembers seeing a small boy walking alone in bare feet across the hard, sharp black stones on the sea.  She pointed him out and we laughed that we would be in complete agony from the very first step. 

Here it is: Haji Ali's Tomb