Pandit Devendra Kaushik Shastri

My place is tucked away in Gali Number 5 over in Uttam Nagar. It’s near the Shri Vaishno Devi Mandir, right where the Shani Bazar happens. On market days, the whole street gets very crowded and it can be hard to move around, but I like the energy of it. The address is 221 and it’s a house that’s been part of the family for a bit. I spend most of my time here meeting with folks from the neighborhood. It’s not a fancy office with air conditioning or anything like that. Just a simple room with some chairs and the things I need for my work. I grew up knowing these streets well. People know me by name and I know most of theirs too. It’s the kind of place where news travels fast without any internet. I try to help out whoever comes through the door as best as I can. Sometimes the power goes out in the summer, which makes it hot, but we manage. I don’t do much in the way of fancy flyers. If someone needs me, they usually just ask a neighbor. The Mandir is a good landmark for people who are coming from further away. It’s a humble setup and I’m happy with it. Each day is a bit different depending on who stops by. We just take things one day at a time here in the Gali. It is a good way to live and work.