What was in the bundle that Kashiram was protecting so fiercely from the thieves, and why was it so important to him?

The bundle that the thieves thought contained valuables actually held something far more humble: powdered sugar. According to Chapter 0, this bundle was incredibly dear to Kashiram because he was following the advice of a saint named Janakidas Baba, who had instructed him to feed sugar to ants. This simple act of devotion and obedience was so important to him that he decided he would not let the bundle go, whatever happened. This resolve led him to risk his life to protect the sugar from the armed thieves.