Dhobi Ghat
Wednesday, April 7 2018
Located outside Mahalaxmi station in Mumbai lies the world largest open air laundry,known as the Dhobi Ghat. The place was established during British rule and is believed to be about 145 year old , however continue to hold a similar ethnicity even now . The cover photo taken over the bridge at first gave me a totally chaotic impression of this place , but altogether has got a different essence and life from within.
The photographs will take you through the moments spent inside this marvellous place in Mumbai.
The Word Dhobi means washerman in hindi, hence the place Dhobi ghat
At the entrance one can see a banner at the gate indicating the washer men community "Dhobi Kalyan & Audhyogik Vikas Cooperative Society". The community is believed to be one of the great hardworking people assumed to have an annual turn over in crores just by washing ,drying , bleaching roll pressing about more than 8000 clothes per day with every precision by there hands. However few also own machines and driers to quicken up the activity incase there is an over flow in orders.
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Dhobi ghat is believed to be a home of around 200 dhobi families ,running the business over generations and moreover have been successfully able to make it as a passion .
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The clothes arrive at dhobi ghat from different places all over mumbai ranging from hotels, hospitals , garment factories and even from local households. the rate of entire washing to the final delivery is here quite cheap and affordable to common man.
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Chacha -Amazing man with whom i interacted at first
Dhobi Pachaaadd ....
Each dhobi family is granted one or two ghats ie a concrete washing pen where thousands of clothing are being washed using water ,soaps,detergents, bleach etc and dried on open air , over the terrace or wherever there is an empty space.
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The process of washing squeezing and thrashing the clothes over and over again , provides a nostalgia before the arrival of washing machines during old days.
Doesnt have a second to look at me even, however i managed to get someone look at the camera in the background
One needs to find a suitable moment to click , as you will find people too busy during the day , however few do even interact for long especially when he is done with or about to begin the process.
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Clothes are finally dried over hanging ropes ,in open air and one can easily experience a nice soothing aroma and coolness while walking in between.
Colourful washed clothes being dried up open air, on hanging ropes, supported bamboos
Relaxed after work, time to pack up !!!
After drying them up , each dhobi collects the set of clothes , wraps in a big goni and submit it for ironing.
Yes of course!! ,the load of clothes is too heavy. they are either delivered as door to door services , either by carts , or through tempos to its rightful owner.
Just finished with everything!!!!!
Time to have a bath .....
Little Pari - Daughter of a Dhobi family
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Dhobi ghat is one of the top tourist attractions in Mumbai and a must visit ,being a unique at its kind and located at heart of the city hence reaching here is really easy. I was really amazed to see the kind of hard work and dedication over such a tiresome and a long process work ,even with smiling faces.
Yet the place seemed to be chaotic from outside , but definitely has a system from inside.
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