Gupta Store

Over at 34 Colonelganj in Allahabad, we have been running Gupta Store for quite a while. We are situated near the Hanuman Mandir, so Tuesday and Saturday are usually our busiest days. You can often hear the bells and the music from the temple while we are working. The shop is filled with all the usual things, but we also keep some items that people need for their prayers and offerings. The atmosphere in this part of town is quite traditional and we try to fit in with that. We have wooden counters that have been rubbed smooth over the years. There are jars of sweets on the counter and bags of rice stacked up against the back wall. The ceiling is high, which helps keep it a bit cooler when the Allahabad heat gets intense. We don't have any big signs or bright lights. Most people find us just because they live nearby or they are visiting the mandir. We keep a ledger to write down what we owe the suppliers and what needs to be ordered next. It’s a very local way of doing things. We don't have a lot of help, so it’s usually just family members taking turns behind the counter. It’s a steady way to live, watching the seasons change and the different festivals bring different crowds to our little corner of Colonelganj. We just try to keep things simple and honest.