Mangal Namkeen

This little place of ours is tucked away in Nava Toli, right in Ward No. 14 here in Daltonganj. If you know the neighborhood, you probably know where Mangal Namkeen is. We spend most of our time around the stove and the packing tables. It gets hot in the back, especially during the summer months, but we're used to it by now. We make different kinds of snacks, mostly the savory stuff that people like to have with their tea in the evening. It started out small and stayed that way, which suits us just fine. There's always a smell of spices and oil in the air around the shop. Neighbors stop by to grab a bag or two on their way home. We don't have a fancy storefront or anything like that. It's just a practical space where we can get the work done. Sometimes we run out of certain items if the day is busy, but we just make more the next morning. Dealing with suppliers for the flour and spices is a big part of the daily routine. We try to keep things simple and consistent. It’s a lot of manual work, weighing things out and sealing up the packets. Nothing too fancy. If you're walking through Daltonganj, you'll find us near the usual spots in the ward. We've been here long enough that most people don't even need the address anymore. It’s just how we live and work.