Jaiswal General Stores

At Jaiswal General Stores, things are usually pretty hectic because Shivala is such a busy part of Varanasi. We are located right on Shivala Road, so there are always pilgrims and locals walking past the front door. The shop is full of bags of rice, lentils, and all the small things people need for their daily cooking. I spend a lot of my time weighing out portions for customers who only want a little bit of something. The building is old, like most things in this part of town, but it serves its purpose. Varanasi can be very loud, especially with the bells from the nearby temples and the horns from the rickshaws. I usually have a cup of tea sitting on the ledge while I wait for the next person to walk in. I have to keep a close eye on what is left because the suppliers take their time getting through the narrow streets. The floor needs sweeping every few hours because of all the dust from the road. My family has been around this area for a long time, so we know most of the people who come in. It’s not a big business with many employees, just us doing what needs to be done. The evenings are the busiest when everyone is out buying things for dinner. We keep the lights on until the street starts to get quiet.