Chacha Pan Center

Chacha Pan Center is right in the middle of the Hadapsar Mahalaxmi Audhyogik Vasahat. Because we are in an industrial estate, our day follows the shifts of the factory workers. When the whistles blow for lunch or at the end of the day, the shop gets very crowded. We have to work fast then, putting together pans with gulkand and nuts. The air in the Vasahat is often filled with the sound of machinery and the smell of grease, but near our shop, it smells more like cloves and cardamom. We have a small radio that plays old songs in the background, though you can barely hear it over the noise of the street. Our counter is covered in a stainless steel sheet that we try to keep polished. There are lots of jars filled with colorful candies and mukhwas that the younger workers like. We don't have any fancy displays. The walls are just plain brick, and we have a few hooks for hanging packets of chips and biscuits. Sometimes a stray dog sits near the entrance for shade. We know most of the workers' preferences, like who wants extra lime or who prefers a sweet pan without tobacco. It is a busy little spot, and we are glad to be part of the daily routine here in the industrial area.