If there’s one snack that Gujaratis can enjoy anytime and anywhere, it’s garma-garam and crispy bhajiyas! That’s the reason why many bhajiya shops in Ahmedabad have been kicking for a century.
Raipur Bhajiya House, an iconic yet modest shop, situated next to Raipur Darwaja was established in 1933 by Somabhai Patel, who used to sell a kilo of delectable bhajiyas for just Rs 1. From Gujarat’s first chief minister, Jivraj Mehta, to our current Prime Minister, many have savored these Jain bhajiyas. Read on to know more interesting facts about this beloved shop.
Jain Bhajiyas served without Chutney – their specialty
Raipur Bhajiya House serves a variety of bhajiyas, including onion, potato, and mix-gota bhajiyas. Unlike the conventional practice of serving them with chutney, here you won’t be offered anything else with the piping-hot fritters. The reason behind this is the Patels’ belief that to truly savor these fried delicacies, they should be enjoyed on their own.
Bhajiyas are prepared fresh every day here. There are no leftovers, and hence no refrigerator in the shop! Originally, the place was opened to serve travelers and passersby. They would often stop at the shop to indulge in snacks or get some packed for their journey.
Inspired by instant noodles, Mahendra Patel, the son of Somabhai, who runs the shop with his brother, came up with an instant bhajiya mix and spices that are now sold in the US and Australia. “We have regular customers abroad who love Raipur Bhajiya, so we decided to supply the instant mix there”, says Mahedra bhai.
The unique rent agreement of Raipur Bhajiya House
Raipur Bhajiya House was started by Somabhai Motilal Patel, who used to sell fritters under a banyan tree in a modest set up. Later, he leased what is now Bhajiya House shop. In place of the rent, the owner of the shop put a unique condition that Somabhai would have provide a handful of bird feed daily in the chabootara (bird feeding area) behind the shop.
In other words, the rent for the shop was set at a handful of bird food. Believe it or not, Raipur Bhajiyaa House began with this unique arrangement, and his sons continue this legacy to this day by daily feeding the birds behind the shop.
