Shree Jagdamba Chewda Mart

Our shop is at the Raopura Ghotawade Phata, which is a busy spot where roads meet. There is always a lot of dust from the trucks passing through. We focus on making chewda. It involves a lot of mixing and roasting. We use big metal tubs to toss the ingredients together with the spices. Your eyes can sting a bit when the chili powder hits the air. We don't have a modern factory; it is just a workshop where we do everything manually. The chewda is piled high in large bins before we pack it into bags. We have different kinds, some spicy and some a bit sweeter. People traveling along the phata often stop their vehicles to buy a few packets for their journey. The floor is always covered in a bit of yellow dust from the turmeric we use. We have a small counter where we take the money and talk to the drivers. It is a noisy place to work because of the engines outside. We don't have any air conditioning, just a couple of fans that move the warm air around. The work is repetitive, but we are used to the rhythm of it. We just keep the supplies coming in and the bags going out. It is a practical way to make a living. We don't worry about much else besides the crunch of the snack.