![An Indian labourer prepares handmade air cooler pads at the roadside in Amritsar on May 9,2018. / AFP PHOTO / NARINDER NANU](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/36R2DY6UOVYG7IAA5UL3ZK2GH4.jpg?smart=true&auth=98bbc74fb9d08cbaf3a421f7c23d9dc453c46c3bc9b2302b9d153787482f888b&width=400&height=225)
An Indian labourer prepares khus grass mats at the roadside in Amritsar for traditional desert coolers for Indian homes in the summer. AFP
An Indian labourer prepares khus grass mats at the roadside in Amritsar for traditional desert coolers for Indian homes in the summer. AFP
The end of an Indian summer tradition: evaporative coolers
Nostalgia sets in as modern air conditioning replaces fragrant desert coolers
Samanth Subramanian
30 August, 2018