Pavitra Departmental Store

Pavitra Departmental Store is located right in the middle of Orderly Bazar in Varanasi. We are at Shop Number 3, very close to the Police Chowki. Being near the chowki means there is always something going on outside. The shop is quite narrow, so we had to build the shelves all the way up to the ceiling. I usually have to use a ladder to reach the top rows of biscuits or jars. It’s a busy part of town and the traffic can get a bit much during the day. We sell all the usual things like spices, sugar, and household items. We spend a lot of time weighing out items and packing them into small bags. The floor is old stone and sometimes it’s hard to keep it perfectly clean with so many people coming in and out. During the festivals, the whole bazar gets packed and we hardly have time to sit down. My family helps out when things get too hectic. We don't have a computer system or anything, just a thick notebook where we keep track of things. People come here because it’s convenient and we’ve been here for years. It’s just a plain store with no big signs or bright lights. We just focus on keeping the bins full and making sure we don't run out of the basics that families need every day.