Diya General Store

We are located out on Baran Road in the Jagnnathpura area of Kota. It’s a bit of a distance from the main city center, but the bazaar here is quite lively during the day. Our store is a general store, which means we try to keep a little bit of everything for the house. We have snacks, cold drinks for the Rajasthan heat, and all the usual kitchen supplies like spices and grains. The shop is basically one large room with shelves lining all the walls. Sometimes it gets a bit disorganized when we get a big delivery and haven't had time to put everything away yet. You might see boxes sitting on the floor for a day or two. My family helps me out with the daily chores, like checking the expiry dates or cleaning the dust off the bottles. The road outside is always under some kind of repair, so it gets very dusty. We have to wipe down the counter several times a day. We aren't trying to be the biggest store around, just a reliable place where you can pick up a packet of tea or some soap on your way home. It’s a lot of long hours, opening early and closing late, but that is the way a general store works. We get to know the kids who come in for candy and the elders who want their specific brand of tobacco or snuff.