Ananda Giftings

Ananda Giftings is on the first floor of E-102 in Shastri Nagar. It’s very close to the Durga Mandir, so we hear the temple bells throughout the day. That’s actually a nice part of being here. You have to walk up a flight of stairs to get to us. The hallway is a bit narrow, but once you’re inside, there’s plenty of stuff to look at. We do a lot of gift items, especially during the festive seasons when everyone is heading to the temple. Our work tables are usually a mess of wrapping paper, ribbons, and tape. We don’t really have a system for the clutter; it just happens when we’re busy. Sometimes we run out of space to put the finished boxes, so they end up stacked near the entrance. The windows look out over the street, and we can see people buying flowers and sweets for their offerings. It’s a lively neighborhood. We don’t have a fancy sign or a big marketing budget. Most people find us because they were already in the area for the mandir or because a friend told them we have what they need. We spend our time checking the stock and helping people pick out things for birthdays or weddings. It’s simple work, but it keeps the days moving along. We try to keep the place tidy, but with all the packing stuff, it’s a constant battle.