Where the dhobis are

In the shadow of the high rise office buildings,
around a corner,

across from the barber,
there it is: a dhobi ghat (the link is a fun photo essay of a dhobi ghat in Mumbai).

Dozens of washtubs and wash men cleaning clothes which fill the street to dry.

Today, it seems, was a load of whites.

Its a far, far world away from an industrial laundromat.
Or even a home washer-dryer set.
But it's every day reality for centuries of dhobis.