Kathiyavad Handicrafts

Kathiyavad Handicrafts is located right in the middle of Choksi Bazar. If you have ever been to the bazar, you know it is a place of narrow lanes and constant movement. Our shop is one of many, but we have been sitting in this same spot for a very long time. The building is old, with high ceilings and walls that have seen many generations. We don't have bright neon lights or a modern storefront. Instead, we have heavy wooden doors and shelves that go all the way to the top. Every morning, we sweep the front step and set things out. Choksi Bazar is famous for being crowded, so we get a lot of people walking by, even if they aren't looking for anything specific. The air smells like dust and old things, which we find comforting. We spend our time checking our stock and talking to the other shopkeepers nearby. It’s a community here, and everyone knows everyone else’s business. We don't use computers much; most of our notes are kept in thick paper ledgers with ink pens. It is a slow way of doing things, but it has worked for us so far. When the market shuts down at night, the silence is almost strange after all the daytime noise. We just like being part of the bazar's history and staying busy with our daily tasks.