LAAL TOPI WALE

"Clean Out Your Ears, Don't Listen

For What You Already Know"

~Rumi

Cleaning one's ears has been done since the Mughal era. The ear cleaners or "Laal Topi Wale" were privileged to have access to emperors to clean their ears and thus they were in high demand at that time. Over the period this vocation has been passed down from generation to generation and families have been continuing this job till now. But due to modern techniques and equipment, the traditional way has lost its luster and has dwindled to a dismal job.

An ear cleaner is easily identified since they normally wear a red skull hat and carry a large bag carrying their gear for the operation. Since they were taught the skill, ear cleaners have earned a career by cleaning people's lug holes. They use a sharp steel needle called “Silaai”, a ball of cotton, and a pair of pincers called a “Chimti”, which is blunt on the other end to scrape away the wax that is clogging your auditory canal. After washing your ears, they wrap the Silaai with cotton and use it to oil them. They usually keep this equipment in their hats, while they keep roaming the streets of Old Delhi looking for customers.

The costs are quite low, Rs 40-50, and are even negotiable. They may be found at places like Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk, Chawri Bazaar, and even CP.

The ear cleaners keep regular clients who have been coming to them for many years, but it is becoming increasingly difficult for them to gain new customers due to contemporary ear cleaning drops and potential risks associated with this traditional method.