Sakshi Masala

Our little spot, Sakshi Masala, is located in Sarasiya. We are right near the Shyam Sundar Temple, which is a good landmark for anyone trying to find us. The smell of incense from the temple sometimes mixes with the smell of our ground spices in the afternoon. It is a nice way to spend the day. We are a small operation here. Most of what we do is just grinding and packing spices for the local families in the village. We don't have a website or anything like that, just a shop where people walk in and buy what they need. Sometimes the bells from the temple remind us of the time of day. We know almost everyone who lives around here by their first name. It is a friendly place to work. We don't use big industrial machines; mostly it is just small-scale stuff that keeps us busy. My hands usually smell like turmeric or chili by the end of the shift. We don't bother with fancy packaging or bright labels. People just want the stuff to taste right in their food at home. Sometimes the rain makes the road to the temple a bit muddy, so things slow down at the shop. But usually, it is a steady stream of folks coming and going. We have been part of this community for a long time now and we like being near the temple. It is peaceful in its own way even when we are busy with our daily tasks.