MosheR Loc: New York City

Did you ever imagine, in your wildest dreams, that you would ever be looking at photos of laundry. Well, if you follow the four posts in this set, that’s what you’re going to do. I’ve been trying, in my various posts, to avoid the obvious, and to take you with me to places that they don’t usually show in documentaries or magazines. I’m reasonably certain that “Blue Planet,” for example, never ran an episode about the place I’m about to show you now.

Many of the Hoggers reading this have looked at some of my recent posts involving the tribal villages in the far off mountains of India. (I have a lot more of that area. You ain’t seen nothing.) My wife and I spent considerable time there and were quite tired when it came to an end. Because she considered this possibility before we even left on our little journey, my wife booked a room in India’s magnificent Taj Hotel, which is considered to be one of the top hotels in the world. Whether this is accurate or not, it certainly seemed so to this old-fart couple who are very used to traveling to all sorts of diverse and generally uncomfortable places.

Anyway, during our stay it occurred to me that there must be some locale where they have the hotel dad their bedding and towels cleaned, as they were actually changed, in this luxurious place, twice a day. So we asked, and the concierge generously gave us information about the incredible hand-processed laundromat known as Mahalakshmi Dhobi Ghat, and even offered to set us up with a guide who could actually get us inside its seemingly chaotic work area. (It is not chaotic in the least. It is, in fact, highly organized. It just looks to be chaotic from the outside.) Of course all this was to be for a price from which I’m certain the concierge was to get a nice cut.

To get to the there meant we had to take a train into the heart of Mumbai which, of course, was much easier to do in India’s complex railroad system with our new guide. The railroad station was conveniently located just next to the laundry and from there, we walked around to see what the area surrounding it looked like. The laundromat stands as an emblem of tradition, resilience, and the unsung efforts of the city’s workers. It’s a sprawling open-air place and it showcases the age-old practice of washing clothes by hand. Tourists can go there and view its workings from a comfortable platform built above the work area, but as we witnessed from our hot and sweaty but privileged position just next to its concrete washing vats, beneath its picturesque appearance lies a tale of arduous labor and the challenges faced by those who toil within its concrete walls.

Mahalakshmi Dhobi Ghat is more than just a laundry facility; it's a microcosm of Mumbai's diverse population and an integral part of the city's cultural fabric. Established over a century ago, the dhobi ghat has withstood the test of time, preserving a method of laundry that has deep roots in the city's history. Rows upon rows of concrete wash pens, each marked by a distinctive number, stretch across its vast expanse, with clotheslines overhead serving as a canvas for vibrant garments to dry in the sun.

Behind the pungent scenes and the rhythmic sounds of clothes being beaten against stones, lies a community of dedicated workers who tirelessly labor to keep Mumbai's laundry flowing. The dhobis, as they are known, belong to a lineage that has carried on the trade from generation to generation. Their work begins before the sun rises, as they gather dirty laundry from various parts of the city and soak, scrub, and wash each piece by hand. The physically demanding nature of the job, coupled with the exposure to harsh chemicals in the hot vats in which they stand for long hours, takes a toll on their health and well-being.

The dhobis of Mahalakshmi Dhobi Ghat face numerous challenges that often go unnoticed. Many of them live in cramped quarters nearby, struggling to make ends meet in the expensive city. The lack of proper sanitation facilities, access to clean water, and basic amenities further compound their difficulties. Additionally, the advent of modern washing machines and dry-cleaning services has posed a threat to their traditional way of life, impacting their livelihoods and financial stability.

Despite the challenges, the dhobis take pride in their work and the cultural heritage they represent. Efforts have been made to uplift their living and working conditions. Local organizations have been working to provide education, healthcare, and vocational training to the community's children, aiming to break the cycle of generational labor. Additionally, campaigns to modernize the laundry processes while still retaining the essence of the dhobi ghat's tradition have gained traction.

This is what the Mahalakshmi Dhobi Ghat looks like from the street.


I guess a lot of Indians wear jeans.


I dream of jean land.


This is the generally unvisited area where many of the unmarried men who work in the laundromat live.


What you see here is the living quarters for eight men. When we were there in, I believe, 2016, the workers, so we were told, made about $1.10 a day. They usually were from the lowest caste, were illiterate, and had very little choice of occupation


Very few women worked there, all behind the scenes. The general public, who could only view the laundromat from raised platforms, never got to see them. So we were lucky.

Mike D. Loc: Crowley County, CO.

Well, you were right about not ever thinking that laundry would be a thing to photograph but you did it with your usual aplomb and they are terrific.

Thanks again for sharing your views of an otherwise unseen world.

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

fosis Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Very many thanks for providing the inside view of the Dhobi Ghat. This is where all the magic happens, and all that laundry finds its way over the trains back to its owners. All 4 posts are wonderful!

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

What an unusual, but interesting subject, Mel.

MosheR Loc: New York City

And thank you again, Mike, for another of your very generous comments. (I happened to be sitting with my wife as I saw this, so I read it aloud to her.)

MosheR Loc: New York City

I can agree, Mike, that it's certainly unusual.

MosheR Loc: New York City

Thank you very much, fosis, for your insightful and generous comments.

MosheR Loc: New York City

😈😈

lnl Loc: SWFL

I often photograph family laundry in foreign cities, just because it’s interesting to see how other folk live. In the western hemisphere, we so often just toss it in the dryer.
I wonder how they know whose jeans belong to which person.
This is another interesting start to an interesting topic. On to #2.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

MosheR Loc: New York City

👻👻

MosheR Loc: New York City

💀

MosheR Loc: New York City

Yeah. Clotheslines are a big topic of interest to traveling photographers, as are people standing in doorways.

MosheR Loc: New York City

Yes. But it's not unusual if you happen to work in a laundromat, Don.

Seriously, though, as I wrote in my introduction, I've been trying real hard NOT to post the cliche places. For example, as long as I've been diving into my India pictures, I've been going back and forth in my head as to whether or not to post photos of the Taj Mahal. We'll see whether the angel or the devil on my shoulders wins.