Why was Kashiram carrying a bundle of powdered sugar, and why was it so important to him?

Kashiram carried a bundle of powdered sugar because he was following the specific advice of another saint named Janakidas Baba. As Chapter 0 explains, Janakidas Baba had advised him to feed sugar to ants. Due to this pious instruction, the bundle of sugar was very dear to Kashiram, and he was determined not to let it go, even when faced by dangerous robbers. The thieves mistakenly thought the bundle contained treasure, leading to the violent confrontation, but for Kashiram, its value was purely spiritual and devotional.