Mahaveer Namkeen &Mishthan Bhandar

Mahaveer Namkeen & Mishthan Bhandar is located in Kesarganj. We’ve been here a long time, and the neighborhood has changed a lot around us. We focus on two main things: the savory snacks and the sweets. The namkeen side of the business means we’re often frying things in big iron pots. It gets noisy and the smell of oil and spices stays on your clothes all day. In Kesarganj, people like their snacks with a bit of a kick, so we try to get the spice levels right. We don’t use any machines for the mixing; we do it all by hand in big tubs. It’s hard work, and our backs often ache by the time we close up. The sweet side is a bit different, requiring more patience with the milk and sugar. We don't have a big corporate office or anything like that. Our office is just a small desk in the corner where we keep the ledger. Sometimes we forget to update the signs or the paint gets a bit chipped, but the food is what matters to us. People come from all over the area because they know where we are. We don't try to be something we're not. We’re just a local bhandar trying to make enough to keep the lights on and the staff paid. It’s an honest living and we’re glad to be part of the street.