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Gaya's Pushpa Transforms Neera into Sweets, Reaches Nepal-Tibet, Creates 6 Jobs
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News18•27-09-2026, 21:36
Gaya's Pushpa Transforms Neera into Sweets, Reaches Nepal-Tibet, Creates 6 Jobs
- •Kumari Pushpa Raj of Gaya, who once managed household chores, now earns over 1 lakh rupees monthly from her Neera sweets business.
- •She started in 2022 with a kiosk outside Bodhgaya Mahabodhi Temple, taking an 80,000 rupee loan from the Jeevika group.
- •Initial demand for Neera sweets was low, but its unique taste gained popularity, especially among foreign devotees from Tibet and Nepal.
- •Pushpa now operates three stalls: near Bodhgaya Mahabodhi Temple, near the Divisional Office in Gaya city, and a large shop near Bhagalpur Mor in Bodhgaya.
- •She has provided employment to 6 people, and her business, inaugurated by then Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, now earns 3-4 thousand rupees daily.
Key Questions Answered
Pushpa started her business in 2022 with a kiosk outside the Bodhgaya Mahabodhi Temple after receiving a kiosk and a Neera cooling machine from the government through her Jeevika group affiliation. She also took a loan of 80 thousand rupees from the group to launch the sweet-making venture.
Pushpa Raj now earns a monthly savings of more than 1 lakh rupees, making approximately 3 to 4 thousand rupees every day. Her successful enterprise has expanded to three locations and provides employment to 6 people.
Foreign devotees from Nepal and Tibet have grown to love the taste of the Neera sweets and pack them to take back home. This rising demand from international visitors significantly contributed to the growth of her business.
