Mumbai’s Dhobi Ghats may be an anachronism, but the traditional laundry service still thrives
Baiju Chakaldas Dhobi Ghat is a 70-year-old traditional open air laundry at Banganga | #FirstCulture
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Baiju Chakaldas Dhobi Ghat is a 70-year-old traditional open air laundry at Bangana. Firstpost/Priyamvada Mangal
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The water used for washing clothes is pumped up through a baadi (a well). Firstpost/Priyamvada Mangal
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Chhaya Kanojia, the lessee, supervises the functions of the dhobi ghat and the 500+ dhobis that work here. Firstpost/Priyamvada Mangal
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The dhobis cycle to their areas of business — mainly, Kalbadevi, Mumbadevi, Bhuleshwar, Colaba and VT. Firstpost/Priyamvada Mangal
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The dhobis have been assigned a concrete washing pen each. Firstpost/Priyamvada Mangal
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The dhobis hand wash clothes and use hand-operated machines for drying them. Firstpost/Priyamvada Mangal
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The dhobis make a minimum of Rs 15,000 per month, as per Rakesh, who has been working at the dhobi ghat for 20 years. Firstpost/Priyamvada Mangal
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The introduction of these hand dryers has brought the washermen respite from the effort of hand-wringing clothes after washing them. Firstpost/Priyamvada Mangal
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The few women who work in the dhobi ghat, are the ones who have settled down in Mumbai with their husbands. Firstpost/Priyamvada Mangal
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There is little scope for newcomers in the business as these families have been working here for generations. Firstpost/Priyamvada Mangal
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These spaces may soon be lost to sky scrapers or malls as the latter means more profits for the land owner. Firstpost/Priyamvada Mangal
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Chhaya Kanojia checks on a dhobi’s work for the day. Firstpost/Priyamvada Mangal
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Banganga attracts visitors from all over the world. Firstpost/Priyamvada Mangal
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