Which Main? What Cross?

Showing posts with label Final Stand - Declining fortunes of Bangalore Jatka Gaadis. Show all posts

January 3, 2017

August 20, 2009

Like all Jhatka Gaadi stands, the one on Magadi Road is next to the market. The Corporation Market on Magadi Road got the current building in 1954. However, the market and the adjoining horse cart stand existed long before that.

Meet Amir Jan. He's been working here for four decades and he owns a single horse.

The man on the right is also called Amir Jan. He says that he's been plying carts from this very stand for nearly six decades!

Meet the new generation of horse owners. This Horse Cart Stand has 10 horses and horse drawn carts. Business is not what it used to be, but then, they continue to keep going.

After a nourishing meal, the horses are being prepared for a day on the road. Shubha labha.

Click here to see Final Stand, The Declining Fortunes Of Bangalore's Jhatka Gaadi Series.

August 2, 2009

1st Cross, Seppings Road

The people of Shivajinagar Series is back. Click here to view.

May 7, 2009

Street No 10, A M Road

Retired and still working.

Live fast, die young. That's what makes the lives of race drivers and celebrity racehorses interesting. But if you are a racehorse from Benglur, you live a pampered life for a while, and then you spend the rest of your life pulling cardboard chariots and ferrying fat grooms to their weddings. That's life like Dr Raj once sang: Badukkidu jataka bandi.

And yes, you still own fancy names like Rani (above) and Toofaan (below).

The Which Main? What Cross? The Exhibition - Is on until May 31st.

F&B Restaurant, Papanna Street, St Marks Road (on the right, soon after SBI). Ph: 080 - 40 333 888

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March 5, 2009

Nawab Hyder Ali Khan Road

It's not just our own skins that we subcontinentwallas love pale white. That's the skin colour we prefer with our horses too. At a wedding, the groom is best seen on a white horse. And in Benglur, you can rent a smart white horse for about Rs 1,500 a day. Out of the Rs 1,500 Kumar and Fairoz, who own the smartest white horses in the City Market area charge, about Rs 250 is spent on feed and maintenance of the horses. But then, weddings do not happen everyday and on those days, the White Beauties are made to pull carts.

More pictures of Horses and Jatka Gaadis of Benglur.

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December 24, 2008

North Park Road, Sheshadripuram

The Equine Influenza epidemic has hit Bangalore streets and could mean a death blow to the horses, few remaining Jhatka Gaadis and livelihood of its owners.

Also see: Final Stand - The declining fortune of Bangalore's Jatka Gaadis Series

August 18, 2008

Nagarathpet Main Rd.

Honk if you like my hairstyle.

Final Stand - The declining fortune of Bangalore's Jatka Gaadis Series

April 15, 2008

1st Main, Sheshadripuram

14 Horses Remaining.
In its hey days, this Jatka Gaadi Stand situated on a prime piece of land in Palace Guttahalli had 40 horses powering it. When I pointed my camera at the corner of the stand where the drivers keep their personal belongings, one of them asked me not to draw attention to this corner where they do business. Land sharks are waiting to have this piece converted for other purposes. There are only 14 tired horses left to go and a few symbols, the Karnataka colours, moon and star, the Maharaja of Mysore stand guard.

Also see: Trades from Shivajinagar, Metal worker, Blacksmith, Newspaper Delivery Boy, The Butcher, and People at work