In the small kitchens of Bihari homes, especially during the Chhath Puja, the air fills with the sweet, spiced aroma of thekua — a beloved snack made of wheat flour, jaggery, and ghee, fried until golden brown. For Guwahati-based Tilak Pandit, this festive treat wasn’t just a family tradition. It became the foundation of a business idea that would eventually reach customers across India.

At just 20, Tilak has transformed his mother’s homemade thekuas into a thriving food startup, ‘Desi Tesi’, proving that homegrown ideas, when paired with grit and passion, can go a long way.

Growing up in a Bihari household in Guwahati, Tilak saw his family prepare thekuas every year as part of the traditional Chhath rituals. It was a nostalgic comfort, tied to memories of warmth, celebration, and community. But it wasn’t until a college fest that Tilak realised its true potential.

With a humble stall at the event, he decided to sell his mother’s........

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