Mohammad Rafiq (left) is the only bhishti to service in the areas …
The well inside Hare Bhare Shah Dargh, adjacent to the Jama Masjid,…
The well inside Hare Bhare Shah Dargh, adjacent to the Jama Masjid,…
The well inside Hare Bhare Shah Dargh, adjacent to the Jama Masjid,…
The well inside Hare Bhare Shah Dargh, adjacent to the Jama Masjid,…
Mohammad Rafiq is the only one works as a bhishti around Jama …
Mohammad Rafiq is the only one works as a bhishti around Jama …
Mohammad Rafiq is the only one works as a bhishti around Jama …
Mohammad Rafiq is the only one works as a bhishti around Jama …
Mohammad Rafiq is the only one works as a bhishti around Jama …
Mohammad Rafiq is the only one works as a bhishti around Jama …
Chand Miyan sells flavoured drinks at Jama Masjid and is one of …
About 500 m for the Jama Masjid us Sakkon Wali Gali, a lane named …
DVD NO. MDVDDP067
DVD NO. MDVDDP067
Mohammad Rafiq (left) is the only bhishti to service in the areas around Delhi’s Jama Masjid. The mashq (goat skin sacks used to carry water) used by bhishtis earlier now mostly hang unused on the walls.
DVD NO. MDVDDP067
The well inside Hare Bhare Shah Dargh, adjacent to the Jama Masjid, is Rafiq’s only source of water. The dargah is only washed with water brought in by the bhishtis, who get Rs 6.000 per month for the service. The well is said to have been there for nearly 350 years and has never gone dry. Some two decodes ago, bhishtis would queue here to draw water, says Rafiq, but not anymore. Even till 2019, there were four-five bhishtis who worked in the area but the pandemic has completely stopped the demand for water by them.
DVD NO. MDVDDP067
The well inside Hare Bhare Shah Dargh, adjacent to the Jama Masjid, is Rafiq’s only source of water. The dargah is only washed with water brought in by the bhishtis, who get Rs 6.000 per month for the service. The well is said to have been there for nearly 350 years and has never gone dry. Some two decodes ago, bhishtis would queue here to draw water, says Rafiq, but not anymore. Even till 2019, there were four-five bhishtis who worked in the area but the pandemic has completely stopped the demand for water by them.
DVD NO. MDVDDP067
The well inside Hare Bhare Shah Dargh, adjacent to the Jama Masjid, is Rafiq’s only source of water. The dargah is only washed with water brought in by the bhishtis, who get Rs 6.000 per month for the service. The well is said to have been there for nearly 350 years and has never gone dry. Some two decodes ago, bhishtis would queue here to draw water, says Rafiq, but not anymore. Even till 2019, there were four-five bhishtis who worked in the area but the pandemic has completely stopped the demand for water by them.
DVD NO. MDVDDP067
The well inside Hare Bhare Shah Dargh, adjacent to the Jama Masjid, is Rafiq’s only source of water. The dargah is only washed with water brought in by the bhishtis, who get Rs 6.000 per month for the service. The well is said to have been there for nearly 350 years and has never gone dry. Some two decodes ago, bhishtis would queue here to draw water, says Rafiq, but not anymore. Even till 2019, there were four-five bhishtis who worked in the area but the pandemic has completely stopped the demand for water by them.
DVD NO. MDVDDP067
Mohammad Rafiq is the only one works as a bhishti around Jama Masjid. He lives close to the Hare Bhare Shah Dargah adjacent to the mosque and earn Rs 200-250 per day. “ Sometime the daily profit is just Rs100. That is just not enough to survive. I do it to keep the tradition alive, but do not know how long it will last,” he says. The demand of water is now extremely limited and Rafiq needs to work just couple of hours to finish the job. A few decodes ago, bhishtis were called to spray water on the ground during outdoor events, such as exhibitions, but that practice has also declined.
DVD NO. MDVDDP067
Mohammad Rafiq is the only one works as a bhishti around Jama Masjid. He lives close to the Hare Bhare Shah Dargah adjacent to the mosque and earn Rs 200-250 per day. “ Sometime the daily profit is just Rs100. That is just not enough to survive. I do it to keep the tradition alive, but do not know how long it will last,” he says. The demand of water is now extremely limited and Rafiq needs to work just couple of hours to finish the job. A few decodes ago, bhishtis were called to spray water on the ground during outdoor events, such as exhibitions, but that practice has also declined.
DVD NO. MDVDDP067
Mohammad Rafiq is the only one works as a bhishti around Jama Masjid. He lives close to the Hare Bhare Shah Dargah adjacent to the mosque and earn Rs 200-250 per day. “ Sometime the daily profit is just Rs100. That is just not enough to survive. I do it to keep the tradition alive, but do not know how long it will last,” he says. The demand of water is now extremely limited and Rafiq needs to work just couple of hours to finish the job. A few decodes ago, bhishtis were called to spray water on the ground during outdoor events, such as exhibitions, but that practice has also declined.
DVD NO. MDVDDP067
Mohammad Rafiq is the only one works as a bhishti around Jama Masjid. He lives close to the Hare Bhare Shah Dargah adjacent to the mosque and earn Rs 200-250 per day. “ Sometime the daily profit is just Rs100. That is just not enough to survive. I do it to keep the tradition alive, but do not know how long it will last,” he says. The demand of water is now extremely limited and Rafiq needs to work just couple of hours to finish the job. A few decodes ago, bhishtis were called to spray water on the ground during outdoor events, such as exhibitions, but that practice has also declined.
DVD NO. MDVDDP067
Mohammad Rafiq is the only one works as a bhishti around Jama Masjid. He lives close to the Hare Bhare Shah Dargah adjacent to the mosque and earn Rs 200-250 per day. “ Sometime the daily profit is just Rs100. That is just not enough to survive. I do it to keep the tradition alive, but do not know how long it will last,” he says. The demand of water is now extremely limited and Rafiq needs to work just couple of hours to finish the job. A few decodes ago, bhishtis were called to spray water on the ground during outdoor events, such as exhibitions, but that practice has also declined.
DVD NO. MDVDDP067
Mohammad Rafiq is the only one works as a bhishti around Jama Masjid. He lives close to the Hare Bhare Shah Dargah adjacent to the mosque and earn Rs 200-250 per day. “ Sometime the daily profit is just Rs100. That is just not enough to survive. I do it to keep the tradition alive, but do not know how long it will last,” he says. The demand of water is now extremely limited and Rafiq needs to work just couple of hours to finish the job. A few decodes ago, bhishtis were called to spray water on the ground during outdoor events, such as exhibitions, but that practice has also declined.
DVD NO. MDVDDP067
Chand Miyan sells flavoured drinks at Jama Masjid and is one of the few vendors using water supplied by the bhishtis. On average, he buys about 100 litres of water a day. “Most stall owners now use bottled water, but I only use the sweet water from the well inside the Hare Bhare Shah Dargah to make the sharbat,” he says
DVD NO. MDVDDP067
DVD NO. MDVDDP067
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About 500 m for the Jama Masjid us Sakkon Wali Gali, a lane named after uts occupants (“sakka” also means water carrier). “Bhishtis were settled here during the reign of the Mugal emperor Shahjahan. Our ancestors supplied water to the fort,” says 56-year-old Aqa Bhai, a resident. The lane once teemed with bhishti families, but of the 100-odd resident living there now, none work as water carriers. Mohammad Ali, the last person who lived here and worked as a water carrier, died two years ago.
DVD NO. MDVDDP067