"On our way back we stopped in a mud-built shack to have sweet, milky cardamom-flavored tea with oily fried goat testicles."

Now, come on, if this doesn't get the public in what will?

Just kidding. I found this piece to be extraordinarily well-written, with the subtle nuances that indicate the depth of the writer's craft. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this piece and feel saddened that such a place exists.

Of course, I have been to every continent except Antarctica, and I have seen shadows of what you describe here in cities everywhere. Judging by what I have encountered, the myth of the "happy hooker" is far removed from reality. Your piece only lends credence to that perception.

Thank you for an amazing read!

Well "Mayank Austen Soofi" i m very impressed from this article. Really ! First thing is "the way u used to express the feelings of other people is amazing. I mean sometimes the character of your article speak thereself only" and the second thing "i get lots of information about "Heera Mandi" now i can tell anybody what exactly "Heera Mandi" is......! third thing in my opinion ur this article can catch anybody attention towards "what miserable life prostitutes are living........."

I have to echo the compliments you richly deserve for this finely written article. The subject is timely (sex, like death, is always timely) and the tragedies of both sex and death, along with life's painful truths await the reader of this article.

Kol hakavód!! All honors to you!!

As usual..well written... You experiencing such things and having them put in words actually helps most of the people, like us esp. who are ignorant about these kind of facts.

Thanks for introducing the realities of life, it was just a fiction to me before i read this piece.

I have always heard about prostitutes and red light areas vaguely from people, but never have I had such a close insight into a whorehouse of yesteryears.

Your experiences have put me into a dilemma. This flesh trade would indeed continue "Heera Mandi" or not with technological assistance of mobile deals and trademark of a call girl for a prostitute, but will it actually bring an improvement in the living conditions of the women involved in it or lead them further to their doom.

After reading this article i feel I am stuck in a time warp.

Mayank, exquisite and intimately written. The 'Mandi' couldn't have been described better in words. I do hear that its by far the most classically sustained and maintained red-light district in the country, keeping in-touch the 'darbari' heritage seen from the old alley-ways and tall sub-continental architectures. But I couldn't make the comparison from experience!

But you're right, it is a fading 'art' or artistic tradition, if you will. Now its gradually coming out of those overshadowed alley-ways and onto Lahore's main roads!
Come friday and saturday nights, one can witness(say once in two weekends) sickly sex-starved men on fancy wheels making deals on road sides in Gulberg and other densely populated commercial areas. Or the time-strapped lad could get the odd-job in his car seat on a dark residential street nearby!
What goes on behind closed doors in some social classes, I leave to your imagination. But make no mistake, that is the status quo.

Your observations and articles put alot of things in context for even a Lahore's resident, Mayank.
You should and will go places..

Thank you Tehman. I have a blog called Pakistan Paindabad (at blogspot). I invite you to write for it. My blog needs persepctive on Pakistan from a Pakistani. You will be much welcomed. I assure you.

its indeed a classic way of expressing the outcomes of the heera mandi.the author has depicted very nicely in comprehencisve words to show the glance of the red light district.

really lovely

awsome man fuckin awsome

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. My recent visit to Lahore took me to the famou are but only during the daylight hours where we had halwa puri at PHAJA'S (Fazal Haque).
Having recently read the book TABOO, I am tremendously intrigued by the whole Heera Mandi set up. What is represented historically and what it is today.
Thankyou for a sensitive, insightful, well written piece.

wow what a great article!! you must publish it in some paper stuff! great!!!!!!!!

i enjoyed reading The Dancing Girls of Lahore.Louise Brown did a FANTASTIC job.this the first book I have read that i cried at its close.
my heart cries to all of the oppressed women of the world who are able despite the suffering have
been able to maintain an enduring spirit

Another great article, Mayank. Very evocative; I almost feel like I've been there myself. This should indeed be published.

Hello, U didn`t show girls rates in your book. Show each girl rate with her pic.

well i didnt studied by the lake of time.but the comments shows that it was good.

good but it is ery short,like fozia saeed written in "taaboo".
Its news that one idian director sanjay bansali has purchased the rights of ur booka nd will make movie over this,
Graete Job.
Ahamd Jamal.

IT IS GOOD BUT
WHAT ELSE CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THE MANDI

i am very sad to read that how much u people happy to.u know that its not reffer the socity level of the muslims.what is going on in india.the aids ratio is grater then pakistan and the indian film industry is the cause i think.here in india i saw lot of that like places,plz think twice before u talk

what i had the been a little bit of experience of these things i found that this heera mandi is an a point of callgirls instead of dancing girls you can say it dancing girls bazar at least 10 years ago .

i want to see full sex

sex is a need of every man

This is surely a good piece written in as many good words, sometimes bordering on the edges of no-mans-land describing things and events and thoughts in a way most would deem outrageous or simply obscure yet portraying the locality and its inhabitants in a light that deserves a read.

I am myself from Lahore yet never actually laid my foot in this so-called-which-so-many-want-to-believe- "Harem Paradise". Probably a family trip to the nearby Anarkali Food Street for a few classy chiken haandis was enough for me then.

Good Work Mayank.

Regards,
Hassan Masud
GIK Institute of Engg.

my LUN is very hot and sexy plz try my LUN one time cheeseeeee BUND

goood good very very good

Very well written!

keep up the good work!

i m very impressed from this article. Really ! First thing is "the way u used to express the feelings of other people is amazing. I mean sometimes the character of your article speak thereself only" and the second thing "i get lots of information about "Heera Mandi" now i can tell anybody what exactly "Heera Mandi" is......! third thing in my opinion ur this article can catch anybody attention towards "what miserable life prostitutes are living........

Sex is good thing but it should be in limit