Why This Village Has Abandoned Home Cooking – The Fascinating Truth!

We all cook meals in our homes daily, and on those days when our taste buds crave something different, we might order food from outside. But did you know there's a village in Gujarat named Chandanki where no one cooks at home? Despite global health experts urging the benefits of home-cooked meals, not a single resident in this village prepares food at home. That raises an intriguing question: why don’t the people there prepare meals in their own kitchens? And if not at home, where exactly do they get their food?

According to the 2011 census, Chandanki was just a small village with around 250 residents—117 men and 133 women. However, recent media reports suggest the population has surged to 1,100, although only 500 people actually live there now, and most are elderly. The reason for this shift is migration—many younger people have left for cities seeking better job opportunities. But this village has now become a remarkable example for the entire nation.

What makes Chandanki so unique is that no one here cooks meals at home. And it's not just a temporary setup—no stove is lit in any household at any time. Instead, everyone gathers in the community hall for their meals. For just Rs 2,000 a month, each person enjoys two nutritious and delicious meals daily, with traditional Gujarati dishes prepared by professional cooks earning Rs 11,000 a month. The food is served in a comfortable, air-conditioned hall, and the villagers use this time to chat and connect with each other, making mealtime a social event. This arrangement has helped combat loneliness among the elderly, creating a strong sense of community.

This whole initiative was spearheaded by the village sarpanch, Poonambhai Patel, who, after spending 20 years in New York, returned to Chandanki. He noticed how the older generation was struggling with everyday tasks, as so many younger people had left the village. The growing trend of nuclear families left many elderly feeling isolated. Recognizing this issue, Patel launched the community kitchen, transforming the village's way of life. Now, people come from all over to see this one-of-a-kind system, which has even boosted tourism to the area.