Naresh Chand & Co.

Naresh Chand & Co. is right in the middle of the madness at 497, Katra Ishwar Bhawan in Khari Baoli. If you’ve ever been to this part of Delhi, you know how it is. The lanes are so narrow that two people can barely walk side by side when the laborers are carrying those heavy spice sacks. Our place is inside the Katra, which is an old building that’s seen better days, but it has character. The smell of chili and turmeric is so strong it gets into your clothes, but after twenty years here, I don't even notice it anymore. We have a small space piled high with ledgers and samples. It’s always crowded and the lighting isn't the best, but we know where everything is kept. My father sat in this same spot before me, and not much has changed since then. We don't do any big marketing or have a website that looks fancy. Most of our customers are people we've known for decades. We drink a lot of chai throughout the day to keep going. The noise outside never really stops until very late at night. Sometimes the power goes out and we just light a few candles and keep talking to whoever is in the shop. It’s a busy life in Khari Baoli, but it’s the only one we know. We just focus on the trade and getting the orders out through the crowded streets.