A unique sweet shop in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, operates entirely on faith, with no staff, CCTV, or security guards. Instead, a Lord Krishna idol watches over the transactions, and customers are trusted to pay for their sweets honestly.
Founded by Vijay Pandey, a devoted sweet maker, the shop follows a self-service model where visitors take laddus and drop the payment into a collection box. If they need change, they can take it from a separate tray. Those without money at the moment can still take sweets, with the promise to pay later.
Pandey’s inspiration came from a touching moment when a man hesitated to buy laddus for his daughter due to a lack of funds. “That day, I gave him the sweets and told him to pay whenever he could. It made me realize—if one person could be trusted, why not everyone?” This belief led him to establish a store that runs purely on honesty.
Named after Lord Laddu Gopal, the shop has gained widespread attention, with social media users praising it as a symbol of trust-based commerce. Billionaire Harsh Goenka also shared the story, expressing amazement at its success in modern times.
The shop, which opened on March 11, has a dedicated bank account in Lord Krishna’s name, treating Him as a business partner. The laddus, made from dry fruits, jaggery, and gram flour, are prepared hygienically and often used as ‘prasad’ in temples.
Many see this initiative as a revival of ancient Indian traditions, proving that honesty and faith can still thrive in today’s world.