Vivansh Spices

Up here in Village Dranga, things move a bit slower than in the big cities. Vivansh Spices is located right opposite the Primary Health Center. It’s a nice spot in the Bhaderwah region of Doda District. You can see the hills from our front door, and the air is usually quite cool. We spend our days dealing with the spices that grow around this area. It’s not a big industrial setup at all. Instead, it feels more like a small shed where we gather and sort whatever has come in from the local growers. We spend a lot of time drying things out in the sun when the weather is clear. If it starts raining, we have to scramble to get everything under the roof before it gets ruined. Inside, we have some manual grinders and a few scales for weighing out the portions. There is always a pile of empty bags in the corner and a smell of wild herbs in the air. People coming to the health center across the road often look over at us while they are waiting. We might wave or chat if we aren't too busy. Life here is mostly about the seasons and what we can get ready for the market down in the main town. We don't have internet or computers running the show. It’s just us, the spices, and the mountain weather. We just try to make sure everything we pack is clean and exactly what it’s supposed to be.