Latest update:09 December 2025 at 10:07 IST

The video shows a family of three preparing a small stove and a gas cylinder to prepare a full meal, despite their presence on the side of the highway.

The family looks completely relaxed while cooking outdoors. (Image source: X)

A new video has started a new discussion on how people use public spaces in India. A family has received a lot of attention after they were spotted cooking on a national highway. The clip shows them setting up a small stove and gas cylinder to prepare a full meal, despite being on the side of the highway. There are no vehicles passing into frame and the family looks completely relaxed while cooking outdoors.

In the video, the man tells his wife that a lot of people are messaging them and asking why they prepare food on the road instead of eating at a food stall or bringing meals from home. The wife accepts that this may not be the right thing to do, but adds that they are not obstructing traffic. She says they are at a rest area and the main road is on the other side. The couple, who have done this several times before, insist they are not disturbing anyone or causing any danger.

Watching a family cook on the highway sparks a new controversy online

The video begins with the man and child resting comfortably on the road, while the wife prepares the meal. “A lot of people message and comment that we are cooking on the road and that can distract others,” says the man telling his wife.

“We also know that we shouldn’t cook food on the road, but you can see that this is a complete rest area and the main road is on the other side,” the woman answers.

Many criticize the family for its lack of civic sense

In response to the post, one user suggested: “There should be rest areas every few kilometers for this purpose on highways with toilets and benches so that people traveling long distances can take breaks.”

Another shared, “Honestly, this is just wild. Cooking halfway through? That’s not entertainment, that’s chaos. A public space is not a personal kitchen and turning the entire area into a mess is even worse. Civic sense should not be a luxury, but a basic responsibility.”

“The road tax should also include the kitchen tax,” one comment read.

One individual stated, “There is a huge deficit of civic sense in the country. The assumption that public space and public property can be used in any way that suits one without any concern for others should be removed from primary education itself and made a compulsory part of NCERT and school curriculum through theoretical and practical classes across India.”

Another said: “The traffic police should find them because the number is visible and they should be fined. Absolutely unacceptable at all.”

Another added: “Seeing people cooking on the road is frustrating because it turns public space into a health and safety issue for everyone. At the same time, it shows how some families don’t have the right spaces or support, so implementation needs to go hand in hand with giving people better options.”

The couple in the video often upload similar clips to their Instagram page. They are usually seen driving through different states and preparing or eating their meals on the side of the road during their travels.

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