By Shikin Louis
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KUCHING, March 13: A 15-year-old Indian girl turned her love for food into a business, selling panipuri—an Indian street snack—after realising it was the easiest dish she could make for extra income.
What started as a small venture at a night market has now grown into a popular presence at major events like the Ramadan Fest at Hikmah Exchange.
Speaking to DayakDaily at the bazaar today, Jassvini Saravanan said her journey began in October 2024 when she first started selling panipuri at her family’s stall at the Kuching City Mall night market.
However, after gaining experience and confidence, she shifted her focus to participating in events and bazaars, starting with the Deepavali Bazaar at Indian Association Kuching (IAK) and later at another event in Aeroville Mall.
The Ramadan Fest marks her latest venture, showcasing her dedication and entrepreneurial spirit.
According to her, the inspiration behind her business venture stemmed from a desire to earn extra income.
“I wanted to earn extra income and easy money, so we tried doing panipuri because it’s easy for me to make,” Jassvini shared.
With support from her mother and drawing from her family’s experience in selling traditional snacks like ‘vadai’ or locally known as ‘cucur rodey’, Jassvini successfully introduced panipuri to the local market.
What sets Jassvini apart is her resourcefulness in learning the craft.
With no local mentor to guide her, she turned to TikTok and YouTube tutorials to perfect her recipe.
“Panipuri is actually from Southern India, so there’s no one here to teach me.
“I learned from YouTube and TikTok. We kept practicing over and over until we found the best recipe,” she explained.
Starting small by selling to friends and family online, Jassvini eventually expanded her offerings to include samosas and mini murtabak alongside her signature panipuri.
On a typical day, her stall sells between 40 to 50 packs of panipuri, with each pack containing eight flavourful balls.
Balancing her studies with her business, the SMK Green Road student dedicates her weekends to selling panipuri.
During the Ramadan month, Jassvini goes the extra mile to show respect for her Muslim customers who are fasting.
She separates the panipuri ingredients, allowing customers to take them home and enjoy the snack after breaking their fast.
At the Ramadan Fest bazaar, Jassvini is not working alone. Alongside her 16-year-old cousin Sanjanaa Balan, she is supported by her 41-year-old mother Sheila Lingham and her aunt, who assist in managing the stall and serving the crowd. — DayakDaily
