Haryana student’s IIT Bombay mess tour goes viral, sparks national conversation on food, culture and campus life

What began as an ordinary campus vlog has now captured the internet’s attention. A short YouTube video by IIT Bombay student Garima Bangar, originally posted in 2024, has resurfaced and gone viral — garnering over 12 million views, 4 lakh likes and nearly 1,300 comments across platforms.

In the now-trending clip, Garima, who hails from Sonipat, Haryana, takes viewers inside the IIT Bombay mess to show how one of India’s premier campuses introduces students to food traditions from across the country.

“I am from Haryana and had never seen the food culture of other states so closely before,” she says in the video. “But IIT Bombay is helping me understand and experience everything.”

A festival on a plate: Culture meets student life

Posting under the channel name @garimabangar, the PhD scholar walks through the dining hall—spotlessly maintained, organised and buzzing with young students. But it’s the celebratory detailing—not just the meals—that stands out.

Garima recalls how Pongal festivities transformed the mess:

• Meals served on banana leaves
• Students seated on the floor
• Footwear removed outside as part of tradition
• Rangoli decorating the dining hall

“Every festival shows up on our plate in the mess,” she says, reflecting how diverse cuisines—from sambar and chutney to laddus and regional sweets—introduce students to the country’s culinary identity.

For many first-time viewers, especially those who have never lived in hostels, the video offers a refreshing and authentic window into campus life—far beyond books, labs and lectures.

More than food — A slice of IIT life

Garima’s academic profile paints the portrait of a young scholar who has travelled through India’s education ecosystem: a graduate and postgraduate in Chemistry from Delhi University, now pursuing a PhD at IIT Bombay, one of India’s most competitive research institutions.

Her content resonates because it highlights a human side of the IIT experience—where hostel corridors, festive dinners, shared meals and cultural exchange become as formative as textbooks.

The revival of her video comes at a time when IIT Bombay has already been in public discourse, following discussions around a proposal to rename it IIT Mumbai—a move that sparked debate among students, alumni and faculty over identity, legacy and change.

A simple vlog, a larger message

The sudden surge of interest in Garima’s video underscores a broader narrative: in a place known for rigorous academics and tough competition, moments of food, festivity and shared experience are quietly shaping memories and building inclusivity.

To many viewers, it is more than a mess tour—it’s a reminder that India’s campuses are living cultural tapestries.

And sometimes, all it takes to tell that story is a camera, a cafeteria and an honest voice.