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Dhobi Ghat: A Laundry Washing Community in Mumbai, India

India | Monday, November 24, 2014 | 5 photos

Several years ago, I saw a film called Dhobi Ghat. I felt inspired to take the time to see for myself the work that happens within this historical laundry washing community during my travels in India.
For me, it was an introduction into an amazingly complex system of receiving, sorting, washing, drying, re-sorting, packaging, and delivering back to the owner of the clothes -- within a couple of days time, without mistakes. It's not unlike the hot lunches that are still delivered by foot and bike throughout India. One thing that really amazed me was seeing many generations working together, doing the parts that they could do. There are many families that live in this community, passing on their skills, teaching and learning from one another. I enjoy learning about how people still work with their hands. I am the kind of person who likes to get in it to experience something. I hope that this sampling of images begins to tell the story of how life flows in one of India's Dhobi Ghats.