Around 115 years ago, during the Rana regime’s peak, Kathmandu’s Rajkarnikar family owned a sweet shop. One of the family’s daughters gradually became a master at making sweets.
The Rajkarnikar family used to deliver sweets daily to the Ranas’ palace, who were fond of sweets. Over time, the daughter of the Rajkarnikar family, Nani Beti Rajkarnikar, started to receive praise from the Rana family because of her skills in making sweets.
Amid all this, she got married to a man from Lalitpur. She was occupied with household chores for some time, but later, she began to miss her sweet-making work.
Coming to Jawalakhel
Juddha Shumsher Rana, a nephew of the then Prime Minister Jung Bahadur Rana, was also fond of the sweets made at the Rajkarnikar family’s sweet shop.
Juddha Shusher wanted to have a sweet shop near his palace, Jawalakhel. As demanded by Juddha Shumsher, one of the members, Nani Beti’s brother, went to Jawalakhel to open a sweet shop. He then wanted someone to help him in the business so he called Nani Beti. This dates back to 1909. After opening the sweet shop in the prime location of Jawalakhel, Nani Beti started to work even more. They added more sweet items. Although the general public used to visit the sweet shop less, Nani Beti used to deliver the sweets to Rana’s palace every day.
After 23 years of Nani Beti running the sweet shop, Juddha Shumsher became the eighth prime minister of Nepal, ruling the country for 13 years.
The sweet shop of Nani Beti in Jawalakhel has now become 115 years old. Currently, the fourth generation of Nani Beti is running the sweet shop. Similarly, the fifth generation is also involved in the business. After a hundred years of running the shop, it was named Badri ko Halwai Pasal.
“This sweet shop, opened by our great-grandmother 115 years ago did not have a name earlier. Back then there was no culture to name the shop,” says Kedar Tamrakar, 63, great-grandson of Nani Beti.
There is also an interesting story behind the name of the shop. Kedar Tamrakar’s father, grandson of Nani Beti, died when Kedar was 12 years old. Kedar did not get a chance to serve his father.
“We could not serve our father, so we named the shop after his name,” says Kedar Tamrakar to Onlinekhabar.
Although we named the shop after our father, our respect for our great-grandmother is always above all, he adds.
Serving everyone: From commoners to celebrities
The jerry, swari and haluwa are the signature dishes of Badri ki Halwai Pasal. Besides, various items are also available in the shop.
“Different generations of the same family members have been our regular customers, such things make us emotional,” says Dipak Tamrakar, 55, great-grandson of Nani Beti. Former DIG Ramesh Kharel has been a regular customer of Badri ko Halwai Pasal for the last 40 years.
“The taste and the quality of sweets here have always remained consistent,” says Kharel, “At least once a week I come here to eat jerry, swari and haluwa.”
Both Kedar and Dipak are friends of Kharel and used to play volleyball together. From the general public to celebrities from different sectors are the customers of Badri ko Halwai Pasal. Former prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai was its longtime customer.
“Bhattarai has visited our shop many times. He used to come once or twice a week,” Kedar recalls. Kedar says that they have never compromised on the quality of sweets.
Demands of outlets
“Except for this sweet shop, we never thought of running any other business,” he says, “We are very much happy with our business.”
Kedar and Dipak both are former national volleyball players. Kedar had to quit volleyball because he had to give more time to the shop. However, Dipak remained a player for a long period.
Their mother and grandmother used to take care of the shop when they used to go to play volleyball. Later Dipak went abroad to overcome the financial challenges. He stayed there for two decades. Kedar continued the business alone. Gradually, the shop began to earn well and he called Dipak to Nepal. Then Dipak returned to Nepal.
At present, everyone from the family is involved in the shop. Similarly, they have also provided jobs to other people as well.
Lately, they have been planning to open an outlet of Badri ko Halwai Pasal. They have already found a place in Chabahil and Kamal Pokhhari but due to some technical issue, they did not open the outlet in both places.
“Our customers from Budhanilkantha have been demanding to open the outlet around Maharajgunj. Other customers who live far away have also been making similar demands,” says Dipak. “That is why we will open other outlets in Kathmandu very soon.”
To further expand the business Badri ko Halwai Pasal has also started to supply its sweets to different department stores. For this, they have opened a company called Badri Foods. Both of their sons are running the company, and they also give time to the sweet shop.
Saving traditional sweets
Dipak expresses concerns over the disappearance of traditional sweets. He says to save the traditional sweets too, they have been continuing the business. In the last few decades, hundreds of sweet shops have been running around Kathmandu. Even the Indian sweets are there. However, Kedar says that they do not feel any kind of challenges or competition because of them.
He says, “Sweet shops like ours have no competitors. I claim that no one can match the taste and quality of the sweets we have been providing.”
“We have been using local raw materials to make sweets,” he adds.
The post A sweet legacy of Badri ko Halwai Pasal appeared first on OnlineKhabar English News.
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