They come from far and wide to provide affordable haircuts and grooming services to the city’s labourers - and anyone who fancies a chat. New Delhi, India - In the city's affluent New Friends Colony, a roadside barber stall is buzzing with life beneath a makeshift tarpaulin. Here, labourers and blue-collar workers are gathering in late October after working long shifts, eager for a haircut in preparation for the Diwali festival on October 31.
“Today, I am seeing a rush!” says Sudesh Thakur, 55, a quiet, measured man in an orange T-shirt and dark brown trousers, his clipper in hand and a smile on his face. He speaks in a low, reassuring voice to his customers as he clips away, bringing a sense of calm to this busy road. Thakur can be found here six days a week - Tuesdays are traditionally the barbers’ day off - walking to his stall from his home nearby each morning at 8am and closing at 6pm.
He takes most of his precious tools - scissors, clippers - home with him at night, leaving his barber’s chair chained to a nearby pole secured to the pavement. Thakur’s street-side barber’s stall is one of many scattered throughout the city, providing affordable grooming services amid the rising cost of living. “I charge 50 rupees [$0.
59] for a cut and 30 rupees [$0.36] for a shave,” he explains. This stands in stark contrast to the middle class hair salons nearby, where a simple haircut can cost 100 rupees ($1.
18) to 500 rupees ($5.92) - nearly a day's wage for many labo.
