A new automatic pani puri vending machine in Bengaluru has recently gained widespread attention on social media.
This unique machine, located in HSR Layout, has become part of the city's well-known "peak Bengaluru moment" trend, where users share peculiar and amusing occurrences from the daily life of India's IT hub.
Bengaluru is no stranger to innovation and hustle culture, often showcased through various online posts. The automatic pani puri kiosk, installed by What The Flavours, exemplifies this spirit.
The kiosk features a staff member who prepares a standard plate of puri with its ingredients. Customers then use the machine's pipes to select their preferred type of tamarind water. The machine, equipped with sensors and pipes, dispenses the flavoured water when it detects the snack held underneath.
The viral post highlighting this innovation has garnered over one lakh views and sparked various reactions. Comments range from admiration to skepticism.
One user noted, "Started in Gujarat a few years back," while another commented, "Peak Bengaluru Definition: Trying to solve a problem that doesn’t exist in the first place." A third person joked, "Rest of Bangalore 1896."
Some users questioned the practicality and hygiene of the machine.
One person asked, "So that pani puri liquid that overflows...does it get recycled or drained?" Another remarked, "It's all over India. Unnecessary hyping of Bangalore."
Additionally, one user expressed a preference for human-made food over automated solutions, stating, "There's nothing more unappetizing to me than food made by automation. It's the one aspect of living that I feel needs to ALWAYS have a human component."
Despite the mixed reactions, the automatic pani puri kiosk has certainly captured the attention of many, adding to the city's reputation for blending tradition with modernity.