Shri Saraswati Kirana Store

You can find Shri Saraswati Kirana Store on Ajmer Road in Jaipur, right across from the Diana Palace. Being opposite such a well-known building makes it easy for people to find us. This is a traditional kirana shop, so we specialize in those basic pantry items that every kitchen needs. We have different varieties of lentils, spices that we buy in bulk, and large containers of oil. The smell of the spices is quite strong when you first walk in. It is a busy stretch of road and we get a lot of dust from the traffic, so cleaning is a never-ending job here. I usually start the day by sweeping the front step and arranging the crates of eggs. We have a heavy wooden counter that has been here since we opened. There are no fancy trolleys or aisles, you just ask for what you want and I fetch it from the shelves behind me. Sometimes when it is really hot in Jaipur, the shop feels like a little cave of shade. We have a few regular customers who come from the houses behind the main road. They usually bring their own cloth bags for the grains. It is a steady life, just measuring out kilos of flour and counting change. We stay busy enough that the hours usually go by pretty fast without us noticing. It is just a regular local business for regular people.