A humble street food stall located at Jhalmala Bazar Chowk in Balod, Chhattisgarh, has captured the attention of local food enthusiasts with its piping hot snacks. Run by Leshkumar Sahu, the stall known as Ganga Maiya Bhel Corner attracts large crowds of snack lovers every evening who gather to relish its famous chilli bajia and mungeri. Through dedication and consistent quality, this modest enterprise has carved out a distinct niche for itself in the local food scene.
The Journey Began Twenty Five Years Ago
According to Leshkumar, his journey in this food business started nearly twenty five years ago when he initially set up the cart to sell only bhel and gupchup. Over the years, as customer preferences evolved, he expanded his offerings to include more variety. About seven months ago, he introduced freshly prepared hot snacks to the menu. This new phase was launched with a modest capital of just seven thousand rupees. Today, the business yields a daily income exceeding twenty five hundred rupees.
Peak Hours and Affordable Menu Items
The stall operates daily from one o'clock in the afternoon until seven o'clock in the evening. Leshkumar notes that the peak rush occurs between four and six in the evening when customers arrive in large numbers. The menu features chilli bajia, mungeri, aloo gunda, gupchup, and bhel. Among these, chilli bajia and mungeri enjoy the highest demand. Affordability is a major draw here, as a plate containing six freshly fried hot chilli bajias is priced at just twenty rupees, and a bowl of mungeri costs the same.
Preparation Method and Family Partnership
Explaining the recipe, Leshkumar's wife shared that they use mildly pungent chillies for the bajia. The chillies are slit down the middle and stuffed with amchur powder. They are then dipped in a well-prepared gram flour batter and fried in hot oil for about ten minutes to achieve a crispy and delicious texture. The smooth division of labor between the couple is the backbone of the enterprise. While Leshkumar prepares bhel and gupchup, his wife manages the preparation of snacks and frying. Their combined hard work has transformed a small venture into a reliable and flourishing daily livelihood.
