Maa Kali & General Stores

Our shop is tucked away in Kali Mandir Gali, right near the Kali Mandir in Golghar. Being in this lane means we see a lot of people coming and going from the temple every day. It’s a small general store, so we carry a bit of everything that the neighbors might need in a hurry. From matches to snacks to little things for the house, it is all crammed onto the shelves. The space is a bit tight, but we know where everything is kept. During festival times, the whole street gets very crowded and loud, which is actually quite nice. We’ve been here for a long time, and the shop has become a bit of a meeting point for people living in the Gali. We open up early in the morning just as the temple bells start, and we usually stay open until fairly late. The walls could probably use a fresh coat of paint, but we haven't gotten around to it yet. We just focus on keeping the stock full. The Gali is so narrow that you can almost touch the walls on both sides if you stretch your arms out. It stays relatively cool even in the summer because the sun doesn't hit the ground for long. We have a small transistor radio that we keep on the shelf for news and music, which helps pass the time when it's quiet. Most of our customers are women from the surrounding houses who need something for their cooking or a quick snack for their children. We want to keep being the store that is always there.