Makrana Moorti Bhandar

Up here at Khejre Ka Rasta, things stay pretty loud and crowded most of the time. Makrana Moorti Bhandar is located right at the third crossing in Chandpole Bazar, which is one of the busiest parts of the city. If you’ve ever been to the bazar, you know how it is—bikes, cows, and people everywhere. Our shop is full of marble pieces and the sound of hammers hitting stone. There is white dust on almost every surface, including our clothes and hair by the end of the shift. We have been in this spot for a long time, and the building itself shows its age. The walls are a bit stained and the floor is uneven, but it works for what we do. We don’t have a fancy showroom with glass cases. Instead, the statues just stand around on the floor or on old wooden blocks. People come in from the street, dodging the traffic outside, just to see what we are carving. It’s hard work, and your arms get tired after a few hours of chipping away at the stone. We take our tea breaks sitting on the front steps, watching the chaos of the third crossing. It’s not a glamorous job, but it’s what we know. We just focus on the stone and try to finish the pieces as they come. It is just a normal day for us here in Chandpole.