For 74 years, Giri has been part of countless homes, festivals and rituals. The name is synonymous with spiritual books, puja materials and cultural products. Its growth, Sharada emphasised, “is the reward of customer trust and service.”
A book that sparked a journey
Giri’s origins trace back to the early 1950s when Tirupunithura Venkatachalam Swarnagiri (T V S Giri), then a private firm employee in Mumbai, sought a book on Sandhya Vandanam as a gift for a friend’s son’s upanayanam (sacred thread ceremony). Failing to find one locally, he travelled to Palakkad, bought a copy and presented it at the ceremony. That act sowed the seed for what became Giri Trading Agency Pvt. Ltd.
Soon, he began sourcing spiritual and cultural books from Palakkad and Chennai for Mumbai families. What began as a personal initiative quickly evolved into a community service, earning him recognition in Matunga.
Building a business of faith
In 1951, Giri formally launched a small shop in Matunga driven by the question, “Can spirituality and arts sustain life?” Books filled the upper floor and puja materials the ground floor. A sportsman in his youth, Giri thus pioneered the blend of devotion and business. By the 1970s, Giri expanded to Chennai with a modest outlet opposite Kapaleeswarar Temple in Mylapore. Soon, a publishing division was launched to address the demand for authentic guides. Over the years, Giri Publications has released 1000+ titles across Tamil, Malayalam, Marathi, Sanskrit, Kannada and Telugu, ranging from ritual manuals and panchangams to epics, devotional songs and classics like Ponniyin Selvan. The publishing arm has played a key role in shaping the cultural consciousness of generations.
Embracing music and the digital age
Alongside books, Giri built a strong presence in devotional music. Recordings of M S Subbulakshmi and other stalwarts, including Vishnu Sahasranamam, Bhaja Govindam, Siva Stuti, were released on LPs, cassettes, CDs, DVDs and later pen drives. “Our books and music continue to sell even in the digital era,” said Sharada.
Tradition in every product
Over time, Giri diversified into puja supplies, idols, garments and accessories. For over 50 years, Giri has sold eco-friendly clay Ganeshas. Brass, copper, silver and panchaloha idols, too, remain cherished family heirlooms. During Navaratri, multi-purpose kolu stand in plastic steps became a hit with space-starved urban families. More recently, Giri ventured into organic foods and millets, winning appreciation during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We never impose products. Whether ours or another brand’s, we sell only what the customer prefers. That has been our success formula,” Sharada stressed.
A business without seasons
Unlike many retail businesses that peak during festivals, Giri thrives year-round. “Ours is not a seasonal business. Devotion is part of everyday life. That’s why customers return month after month while new ones keep discovering us,” said Sharada.
Today, Giri operates 36 branches across six Indian states, two in the USA and outlets in Australia, the UK and Dubai. Its flagships store are located in Mylapore, Pallikaranai and Anna Nagar.
The company continues to record strong year-on-year growth, driven by its wide range of offerings. Puja Items form a major part of its sales, with agarbathis contrbuting significantly. Exports and E-commerce partnership with Amazon and Flipkart further strenghten its reach.
A family driven vision
The Lakshmi Giri Charitable trust runs CSR initiatives, including annual arangetrams. Musicians, too, have found a platform at Giri. “We supported singer Sikkil C Gurucharan, Rajhesh Vaidhya and many others, who later achieved success. Our role is not just commerce; it is nurturing culture,” said Sharada.
Today, Giri is guided by a strong Board of Directors across the three generations. From a single book that sparked a journey to a global enterprise rooted in devotion, Giri continues to prove that faith, culture and business can not only coexist but thrive together.
