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Time of India
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Feels just like home!': Indian YouTuber finds ‘Chandni Chowk vibes' in New Jersey's India Square; video goes viral
Source: Instagram In a moment that resonated with millions, an Indian YouTuber has ignited a social media storm after sharing a video of a street market in New Jersey resembling Delhi's iconic Chandni Chowk . The clip, posted by content creator Rudraksh Solanki, known on Instagram as delhi_youtuber, has gathered over 3.4 million views and 180,000+ likes, sparking nostalgic memories and humorous reactions among Indian audiences worldwide. As Solanki strolls through a busy neighbourhood dotted with Indian stores, music, and conversations, it's easy to forget the place is the United States and not an Old Delhi street. The viral headline of the clip, "America ka New York nahi, Chandni Chowk hai India ka yeh" (This is not America's New York, it's India's Chandni Chowk), caught the internet's attention. India Square in Jersey City feels just like Delhi's Chandni Chowk; video goes viral The community shown in the video is India Square, which is located in Jersey City, New Jersey. The community has been a thriving hub for the Indian diaspora for decades. Restaurant-lined, sweet shop-lined, grocery store-lined, gold jeweller-lined, and paan stall-lined streets offer an experience of home to many immigrants and tourists alike. On watching the clip, one can spot familiar names of shops like: Vatan Hot Bread Rasoi Indian Cuisine Atul Bakery Ganpati Jewellers Bikanervala Laxmi Pan Vala The streets of Chandni Chowk are lined with Indian family groups, Hindi billboards, and the aroma of street foods like samosas and jalebis, creating the atmosphere here strikingly similar to Chandni Chowk's zany persona. Social media reactions celebrate India Square as the Chandni Chowk of America Social media was quick to react to the video. Thousands of users flooded the comments section with a mix of nostalgia, pride, and humor. Some of the standout reactions include: 'UNO reverse ho gaya… India ne kabza kar liya.' 'Just waiting for a Tiranga or Bhagyashree hotel to open there—then we'll have everything!' 'This isn't America anymore—it's Delhi in disguise.' 'I go here every week. The food is top-tier.' These are more than a joke—they attest to how dearly diaspora communities cherish their cultural heritage. To immigrants, India Square isn't so much a shopping district—it is an emotional anchor that keeps identity and belongingness alive in a foreign land. From Diwali to daily shopping, India Square bridges cultural distance The video also fuels controversy about India's expanding global cultural footprint. With the Indian diaspora expanding in countries like the US, so expands their food, linguistic, and business footprints as well. Some web users have described this as "Indian soft colonization," how Indian culture is disseminating in metropolitan areas across the globe through the car industry, popular entertainment, and enterprise. In Jersey City, these ghettoes are no longer niche-they are now the hub of the city's cultural identity. Solanki's viral video has shone a spotlight on one such corner of Indian life in America—a bustling, colorful, and deeply rooted space that has become a 'Chandni Chowk away from home.' Understanding the emotional link between Chandni Chowk and India Square To understand this analogy, one needs to understand what Chandni Chowk is. Established in the 17th century by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, the Delhi market is a historic melting pot of Indian commerce and culture. Renowned for its narrow lanes, centuries-old havelis, and bustling shops selling everything from bridal wear to chaat, it is among India's most populous and sought-after markets. By contrast to Chandni Chowk, India Square is not merely a visual equivalent but also a cultural equivalent—of sensory experience, communal activity, and connection with heritage. To the Indian diaspora, that resemblance is profoundly affective: one of homesickness away from home. Also Read | Best WhatsApp status quotes: 250+ cool, funny, and loving caption ideas to express your mood and vibe
Time of India
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Viral: Indian YouTuber reveals the 'Chandni Chowk of America' and netizens can't keep calm
Image credits: Instagram/delhi_youtuber India is a country whose streets are always bustling with people, vehicles and sellers. Each lane has a market where you can get anything, from daily groceries to restaurant-made dishes. Shops put up big bannered names and became popular within areas and communities after serving the people for years. One such popular market with old shops that families have been visiting for generations for not only everyday shopping but also wedding and occasional shopping is Chandni Chowk. It is one of the oldest and biggest markets in the country selling wholesale and retail goods. Until now, people only knew one Chandni Chowk present in New Delhi. But an Indian YouTuber visiting America sent people on the internet into shock as he revealed the Chandni Chowk of America where you can find Indian people on the streets and Indian shops selling Indian products in the market. Taking to Instagram, delhi_youtuber shared a video of himself somewhere in America writing, "America Ka New York nahi Chandani Chowk hai India ka yea" (Not America's New York, This is India's Chandni Chowk" His video has gained 3.4M views and 180K likes with people engaging more and more with it. The YouTuber, whose name is Rudraksh Solanki read the names of the shops which were all Indian, namely, 'Vatan hot bread, Rasoi Indian, Atul Bakery, Ganpati Jewellers, Bikanervala, Laxmi Pan Vala' and many more. He added how you could see Indians all around and it felt like he was in India. He revealed that the market was located in New Jersey and was named India Square as shared by a person he met in the video. Social media reactions Image credits: Instagram/delhi_youtuber People in the comments section went wild after seeing the video as they were stunned by the visuals of an Indian market in America. "UNO reverse ho ne kabza kar liya…" wrote one social media user. "Bhai bas HOTEL TIRANGA aur HOTEL BHAGYASHREE ka branch khul jaye vaha par fir sab paa liye US me hamne!" added one user, "Newyork living in India 😂" wrote another. Another social media user appreciated the food in the market writing, "I go here every week the food is top tier 🤤" "Indian soft colonization 🔥👏😂" and "NewYork's most of ppl love the indian food" wrote others.
