Navnath Mirchi Masale Centre

Navnath Mirchi Masale Centre is our family business on Narayan Dhuru Street in Chandan Nagar. It’s easy to find because of the heavy scent of ground chillies and turmeric that hangs in the air. We have been here for a long time. The shop is filled with large metal containers and jute bags overflowing with different spices. We spend the whole day weighing out portions for the ladies in the neighborhood who come in for their weekly cooking supplies. Sometimes we are in the back grinding the spices, which makes everyone in the shop sneeze. It’s a small space, and the floor is always stained with red and yellow dust. We don't have a website or anything like that. We just talk to the customers who walk through the door. Some of them have been coming here since I was a kid. We know their names and what kind of spice mix they like for their curries. It’s a busy street with lots of traffic, but inside it’s just the smell of home. We don't sell pre-packaged stuff from big brands. We do it all ourselves. It’s hard work on the lungs and the eyes, but it’s what we’ve always done. We just keep the bags full and the scales ready. Chandan Nagar is our home, and this shop is just part of the daily life on this street.