Rishi Khadi Bhandar

Our shop is at 840 C in the Chunna Mal area of Chandni Chowk. We have been selling items as Rishi Khadi Bhandar here for a long time. The place is small and it always has that specific smell of hand-woven fabric. We don't use any bright lights or big displays to get people to come in. Those who want real khadi usually know where to look. It’s a lot of work keeping everything folded and tidy because customers like to touch the fabric to feel the weight. We get people from all walks of life coming through that door. Some want a simple shirt piece, others want enough for a whole family. Chandni Chowk is always a bit chaotic, but once you step inside, it’s a little bit calmer. My cousin and I run the place mostly. We have a small wooden counter where we do all the measuring. We use a brass yardstick that's been here longer than I have. Sometimes we sit on the floor to show the bigger pieces of cloth. It’s a traditional way of doing things. We don't see any reason to change it. The lights flicker sometimes when the grid is overloaded, but we just keep going. It’s an honest way to make a living and we appreciate the people who stop by to see our latest stock. Most days we are just busy folding cloth and talking to neighbors.