When in Delhi ....

Do like the Delliwalllahs do ....

The temperatures are sky high at the moment. A heat wave is gripping us and at 44 C it is ripping every bit of energy and moisture out of us. We look like this piece of ground from a pond nearby.

Delhiwallahs and perhaps other cities as well have found their own way of keeping cool and these systems have intrigued me ever since we arrived. They look like giant fans in a big box and they have grass lining in them which is kept wet. When the fan sends air through the wet grass the moisture translates into a noisy (to add to all the rest !) but effective cooling system. I tried to find out who invented this because it is ingeniously simple and clever. We have one installed in the house which cools communal areas which are not air-conditioned and every year the system is serviced - well new grass needs to be put in the frames for it to work efficiently. I captured the men doing the service in the garden.

On three sides of the cooler there are "curtains" or "filters" made of grass. Sometimes a fragrant dried grass called khus is used which gives a nice sweet smell to the air

I have found out they are called Nagpur desert coolers because they are very common in the central Indian city of Nagpur where the temperature is usually over 40C (104F) during summers.In Delhi the temperatures in May are closer to  40C - 45C.Some people prefer these desert coolers, not to mention that these are significantly cheaper compared to an air conditioner and more ecologically friendly. A good Indian Invention if it is that - any information gratefully received.