Mahaveer Bartan Bhandar

Mahaveer Bartan Bhandar is our family-run spot at 29 A in the New Dhan Mandi area of Dhanmandi. Being situated in a grain market means there is a lot of dust and noise from tractors and trucks all day long. Our shop is quite different from the grain stalls, though, as we are filled from floor to ceiling with metal kitchenware. We have rows of stainless steel pots, brass plates, and all kinds of utensils that people use in their homes every day. The shop is a bit of a labyrinth because we try to fit as much stock as possible into the space we have. Sometimes the piles of metal get so high that you have to be careful not to knock anything over. The sunlight reflects off the shiny surfaces of the pans, making the whole place feel bright even when it’s cloudy outside. We don't have any modern management systems or fancy displays. We just remember where we put the different sizes of cookers or the specific types of spoons. People from the surrounding villages often come in while they are at the Mandi to buy things for their kitchens or for weddings. We just talk to them, show them what we have, and help them find what fits their needs. It’s a busy life, and the work can be tiring because moving all that metal is heavy, but it is what we know. We stay until the market activity slows down for the night.