Bombay Pan Bhandar

We are located right at Holi Chowk in Sangam Vihar, which is basically one of the busiest spots you can imagine. Our shop is called Bombay Pan Bhandar, though we have been right here in Delhi for a long time. People know us for being open late, which is when the Chowk really gets lively. There’s always someone stopping their bike or car right in front to grab a quick pan before heading home. We keep things pretty straightforward with the usual ingredients laid out on the counter. It’s a lot of repetitive movement, picking up the leaf, spreading the lime, adding the tobacco or the sweet stuff, and folding it just right. The noise from the traffic never really stops, and there’s always music playing from a nearby store or a passing rickshaw. It’s a small space, so we have to be organized or we’d never find anything. The walls have some old calendars and a small mirror. We don't really have a seating area, so everyone just stands around the Chowk talking while they chew. It gets especially busy during festivals when the whole area is decorated. We just stay at the counter, making one pan after another until it’s time to pull down the shutter. It’s a decent way to spend the day, seeing the whole neighborhood pass by our little front.