Clinkers in India

Clinkers in India
© Sue Clinker - photo taken on our visit to Jaipur 2014

Friday 4 March 2016

Mahalaxmi Dhobi Ghat

These last few blogposts are being done very hurriedly as we're running out of time and I'm having to rush things a bit (including knocking some posts out at 2am whilst his lordship zzzzzzzs) so apologies for any typos etc., the blog is really just an aide memoire for us as we're already getting confused about where we've been and what we've done ... it all becomes a blur after a while

This morning we walked to Churchgate station again to purchase train tickets to Mahalaxmi station from where you can view the 140+ year old dhobi ghat (outdoor washing/laundry).   

The public isn't officially allowed into the working area and photos have to be taken from the bridge overlooking the laundry.   But I'd read on the internet that its sometimes possible to go down the steps and one of the workers would turn a blind eye (in return for a few hundred rupees).   Whilst buying tickets we bumped into a couple of the guides from Reality tours who 'knew a man inside the laundry' and they phoned ahead so he could look out for us ... for a modest 400 rupees (£4) this guy handed us over to one of the workers who had a smattering of English and we got whizzed along on a 15 minute tour of the place

Photos of the Dhobi Ghat from above (this was around 9.30am - 5 hours after the dhobis started work so many of the wash bays are empty at this time









Hundreds of dhobis (washermen/women) start work around 4.30am cleaning sheets and garments from factories and hospitals etc.    There are some industrial washing machines/spin dryers there but most work is done by hand (or foot).


they don't use pegs, the clothes are held in place between two twisted lengths of rope


Saris 


 Water is boiled in the these containers over charcoal in order to thoroughly clean the laundry from nearby hospitals
I don't blame him for sleeping on this barrow ... we saw the two small rooms shared by 20 men for living/sleeping quarters - no privacy or personal space there

Pressing clothes with a charcoal heated iron

So this is what an iron looks like?


This is where the handwashing is done .... beating the garments on the stone walls.   We saw the men constantly washing themselves and our 'guide' explained that the washing water contains bleach which leads to skin/feet problems so they rinse it off frequently but still its not a very good working environment for them




and this guy is working on stain removal from soiled hotel linen

I'm pleased to say this is the only child we saw on our brief visit .. we're told that the children all attend school which is good news.




2 comments:

  1. Considering women are supposed to be lowly it does seem to be men doing all the menial jobs.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The women were 'behind the scenes' sorting saris and scarves etc., but you're right, the men were doing all the heavy stuff here

    ReplyDelete