‘It is satisfying when people come back to buy candles for a wish fulfilled’

“The church closes around 8:30 pm, but people still come to buy candles at night. It is not always about lighting the candle inside the church. Most of them want to give it as an offering, or place it in their own prayer room,” explains Varma, closely examining the varied-coloured candles for damage.

While nights are usually slow for business, he gets to interact with people more and some of his loyal customers always visit the shop at night.

“About three years ago, an Australian tourist came to visit the church around midnight, not aware of the closing time. She was fascinated by the different colours of candles that we had to offer. A horse rider by profession, she wanted to know if I could make a candle depicting her profession. Now, she visits my shop once in every six months, when she comes to Mumbai,” says Varma.

Varma’s shop is filled with candles of different kinds, for different kind of prayers. Among them are book-shaped candles, building-shaped candles, a candle resembling a ladder for those who pray for “growth” in life. These are made by his family and stored in a godown in Bandra.

“The dog-shaped ones are my favourite. You will be amazed by the number of people who pray for the well-being of their pets,” he says, sharing an anecdote about the time a couple rushed to his shop at night to buy the particular candle to pacify their daughter, who was worried about their unwell dog.

He calls September his favourite time of the year because the annual Bandra fair brings many customers to his shop,
especially at night.

“Around 15,000 people visit this road during the fair. It looks beautiful with lights and music. It feels like the
place doesn’t sleep for an entire month,” says Varma.

Ask him what is most challenging about working both the morning and night shifts, and he says, “There is nothing challenging about my job, honestly. I get to be a part of someone’s dream. It feels fulfilling when they come back to buy candles from me for a dream that has come true.”