Dhobi (transl. 'washerman'), known in some places as Dhupi or Rajaka ('remover of dirt'), is a group of castes in India and the greater Indian subcontinent whose traditional occupations are washing and ironing clothes.

They are a large community, distributed across northern, central, western and eastern India; as well as in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. A majority of the community associate themselves with Hinduism. Many religiously follow Sant Gadge (Gadge Maharaj), whose jayanti (birth anniversary) they celebrate every 23rd of February.

 

The word dhobi is derived from the Hindi word dhona, which means 'to wash'. As such, Dhobi communities in many areas today come under the status of schedule caste (sc). In 2017, Supreme Court of India noted calling people dhobi was offensive. Throughout India and south-central Asia, dhobi ghat is to refer to any laundry- or washing-place where many launderers or clothes-washers (either as ordinary people or professionals) wash clothes and other linen. The most notable of these is Dhobi Ghat in Mumbai.

 

Mughal-Library