Moments In Px
Panipuri, a Photo Story
Every day while returning from college, I see Amar Mahato, a panipuri bhaiyaji (seller of panipuri), surrounded by his customers devouring plates after plates of panipuris. He sells one of the most delicious, mouth watering panipuris in the town and greets his customers with a smile.
Amar Mahato, 30, who lives with his wife, a daughter and a son, is originally from Darbanga, Bihar, India. He resides temporarily in Prayagpokhari, Lagankhel.
The process of making panipuri is not as easy. Kabita Mahato, 22, his wife, helps him in his daily chores.
The husband and wife team prepares everything and gets the puris and other ingredients ready for a business day.
The initial part of the process starts with boiling the potatoes, mashing them and adding various ingredients. Amar then fries the puris and finally he packs it.
It has been around 14 years since he has been in this business and until now no one has complained about it.
He sells around 400 plates maximum per day, while the minimum is 300, which gives him 30% profit from the total sale.
Most of his earnings go to rent and buying the ingredients, but he saves enough to provide for his family.
These three students have been coming to Amar's stall for years and say that they will hunt for Amar no matter where he moves.
Panipuri. You either hate it or love it. If you are just strolling around the streets of Kathmandu, you cannot miss the fanfare around the panipuri stall. You cringe when people eat it and rather religiously too. ‘Is that even hygienic?’ you murmur while fighting back the urge to drool. Rahul, on the other hand, invited himself to Amar, the panipuriwallah’s world and came back with a story. “I wanted to know more about him and his daily life and the process of preparation of the fabulous panipuri that I love so much,” he says.
For V.E.N.T! Magazine's documentary photojournalism workshop, he went out and told the story of Amar Mahato, who runs a panipuri pasal (panipuri stall) near Campion College, Kumaripati.
- Rishi Amatya, photo story editor, V.E.N.T! Magazine
Rahul Shakya
Rahul Kumar Shakya is a fourth generation photographer who grew up surrounded by cameras and photographers. “Even as a child, I had always thought of being a photographer,” he says. Rahul is currently a second year student pursuing bachelors’ degree in Mass Communication/Journalism and Sociology/Anthropology. Whenever he can, he spends his time helping out in the family operated photo studio, which his grandfather established nearly half a century ago.
( Jul 27th 2009, 04:39 PM ) says:
near Campion College, Kumaripati.
( Jul 28th 2009, 09:03 AM ) says:
Hey Rahul! Good job. Your photo story is short and admirable. Hope to see more photo stories from you....Malai kahile khuwauuna lagne yo bhaiiya ko ma??
( Jul 28th 2009, 02:42 PM ) says:
Rahul, U really did a gr8 job by writing this sweet article about panipuri Bhaiyaji. U know Rahul, even I and my frens used to enjoy panipuri from Amar Bhaiyaji while returning from our school..
(It's may be around 2001 when we were in our secondary level). And must say, it's really very tasty n chatpatta...Hoping to read more articles 4m u. All the best Rahul..
( Jul 28th 2009, 10:28 PM ) says:
looks n sounds yumm!!
( Jul 29th 2009, 11:28 AM ) says:
thanks alot for ur positive comments. ani jeena timilai chitai khuwauna lagchu ma.
( Jul 29th 2009, 04:26 PM ) says:
The photostory is a great way to add a wonderful new dimension to VENT and Rahul's story is a great start. Hope to see more stories soon.
( Jul 29th 2009, 09:16 PM ) says:
i went to campion academy for my +2...and Amar bhayaji's chatpate was the only thing that motivated me to come to college everyday ...kidding...but seroiusly...he made the most tasty aalo ko chatpate....miss those days when we used to eat less at college canteen just to keep space for his chatpate...thank you for this article...
( Jul 29th 2009, 10:37 PM ) says:
Nepali pani puri still tops the chart. If u ask my friends, i will be the last one to taste street food. But having lived in india for last 2 years in a territory where six flavour of pani puri are available, i still find the one in kathmandu more tasty. Though i have never eaten from the featured vendor i guess it tastes great. And need to thank the creator of the photo story for bringing a tangy delight in the spectrum of vent. Those who want to try indian pani puri they should also go to delhi.
( Aug 2nd 2009, 02:21 PM ) says:
Hey Rahul, Great job. i like ur photos. kasto ramro photo haru!!! Every time i look at those photos, i feel it more nice n fresh one.That photo of panipuri brings water in my mouth whenever i see it. Hope to see more nice photo stories in future. all da best.
( Aug 6th 2009, 02:37 PM ) says:
Yea i remember that man.... hehe i went almost every 2ice and 3rice in week to this place with my fren Deepak... as he used to be in gate of United Academy before when i was in +2 that was 7-8 years back.... Nice post ..u reminded me of my college day and my college fren!! I also rememberd buying Friendshipday card to Anuja for the first time and was waiting there eating is Chatpate!! hahaha what a memory he carries!! Good post!!
( Sep 18th 2009, 11:44 AM ) says:
Wow RAHUL gerat job!!!!! And I really want to taste that panipuri......hmmmmm....yummmmyyyyyy
( Sep 21st 2009, 04:27 PM ) says:
nice job!!!! i love da work.
( Sep 21st 2009, 04:28 PM ) says:
rahul.. great job !!!
( Jan 3rd 2010, 05:05 PM ) says:
so simple yet so covered...
thanks for revealing it...
:-)
( Mar 21st 2010, 01:07 AM ) says:
i know this guy....he sells "the best" panipuris in town.....good job rahul!!
( Apr 11th 2010, 01:11 PM ) says:
Ah...i too have heard a lot about that panipuri shop near campion college...but never got chance to taste that....well if i get opportunity...i shall have a lot of it...!!!
( May 4th 2010, 12:54 PM ) says:
A confusing sentence construction :
"Every day while returning from college, I see Amar Mahato, a panipuri bhaiyaji, (seller of panipuri) surrounded by his customers, devouring plates after plates of panipuris. He sells one of the most delicious, mouth watering panipuris in the town and greets his customers with a smile."
It sounds like Amar Mahato, the seller, is devouring the panipuris.
The better construction would be:
Every day while returning from college, I see Amar Mahato, a panipuri bhaiyaji (seller of panipuri), surrounded by customers devouring plates after plates... (that's how it should go...)
i think
what'd you say??
regards.
( May 22nd 2010, 10:02 AM ) says:
thank you subbu. i think u are right...i have actually created a page in facebook "pani puri...i love it..." please i request everyone to view that page...i will be updating it and will have a discussion topics too...thank u everyone for ur comment it has been a great help and support for me...
( Aug 8th 2010, 08:56 AM ) says:
good job rahul. it was nice to see the pictures. i can only wish there were more of them.
whr's his panipuri shop?