Garib Halwai

You can find Garib Halwai right on the Gandhi Nagar Main Road at 9/1634. Being on the main road means we deal with a lot of noise and traffic all day long. It is a very busy spot. We are halwais, so our day is centered around big iron vats and long stirring paddles. We make a variety of traditional items that require a lot of patience and arm strength. The steam from the cooking often fills the front of the shop. We don’t have a lot of fancy furniture; it is mostly just counters and the space where we do the cooking. The address 9/1634 is easy to spot because of the large pots sitting near the entrance. We start work while most of the city is still sleeping so that everything is fresh when the shops on Gandhi Nagar Main Road begin to open. It is hard work, and the kitchen gets incredibly hot in the summer months. We serve whoever walks in, from laborers to business owners. There is no ceremony here, just food served on simple plates. We have been doing this for years, following the same steps every morning. It is a local place for local people. We don't try to be anything other than a basic halwai shop. Most days are long, but seeing the empty pots at the end makes it feel like we did our job right. We just keep going until the work is finished for the day.