Mumbai’s famed dabbawalas, who run a popular lunchbox delivery system in the city, have sent traditional ‘Puneri Pagadi’ headgear and ‘Uparne’ stoles as gifts to King Charles III ahead of his coronation ceremony in London on May 6. These gifts hold great significance in Maharashtra’s Pune city, where the ‘Puneri Pagadi’ is considered a symbol of pride and honour.
Although the dabbawalas have not been invited to the coronation ceremony, their office-bearers invited by the British Deputy High Commission in Mumbai to hand over the gifts to authorities who will ensure they are delivered to King Charles.
We are marking the #Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort with a celebratory event hosted by @alangemmell.
Thank you to @TataCompanies for sponsoring & Consuls-General from Commonwealth nations and all our friends from Mumbai for joining us. pic.twitter.com/bU8HrROBgT
— UK in Mumbai 🇬🇧🇮🇳 (@UKinMumbai) May 2, 2023
This isn’t the first time that Mumbai’s dabbawalas have sent traditional gifts to the British royal family. In 2005, the dabbawalas sent a Maharashtrian turban and a nine-yard sari for Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles’ royal wedding in London.
The dabbawalas have a reputation for their work acumen, accuracy, and punctuality, and their ‘timely delivery’ motto has earned them a Six Sigma rating of efficiency by Forbes magazine in 1998. Despite the challenges of Mumbai’s weather, the dabbawalas deliver around two lakh tiffins to office-goers during working days using suburban trains.
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Although many of the dabbawalas shifted to their native places in the Pune district due to the COVID-19 lockdown, their work continues to be an integral part of Mumbai’s cultural heritage.
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