Watch: Indian mom dries clothes on balcony of Dubai hotel. See their response

Since being posted six days ago, the video has garnered 11.1 million views. (Image: @iam.pallavivenkatesh/Instagram)

An Indian woman drying clothes on the balcony of a luxurious Dubai hotel has sparked a mix of amusement, criticism, and an official response from the hotel itself.

Earlier this week, Pallavi Venkatesh shared a video on Instagram, capturing her mother hanging clothes to dry on the balcony of Atlantis, The Palm, in Dubai. The caption read, “Moms just momming at Palm Atlantis.” The video showed her mother meticulously hanging a pair of shorts on the guard rail, followed by a view of another balcony adorned with sun-drying clothes.

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A post shared by Pallavi Venkatesh (@iam.pallavivenkatesh)

Since being posted six days ago, the video has garnered 11.1 million views.

“Moms are such cuties,” an Instagram user commented. Another added, “You can take mom out of India but to take India out of mom is just impossible.”

However, not all reactions were positive. Many criticised the act as improper etiquette. Hanging clothes on balconies is prohibited by Dubai authorities to maintain the city’s aesthetic appeal. In 2021, the Dubai Municipality advised residents against drying laundry on balconies or windows.

In line with #DubaiMunicipality’s keenness to raise the community’s awareness of the requirements and standards for a sustainable environment, it urges all UAE residents to avoid distorting the city’s general aesthetic and civilised appearance. pic.twitter.com/PmQRs7iJL8 — (@DMunicipality) December 27, 2021

“It is illegal. You could get fined,” one commenter warned. Another questioned, “Doesn’t the hotel have laundry and dryer facilities in-house?”

One user stated, "The problem with desi parents is the toxicity that whatever they do is right. That's how our generation has been embarrassed of our parents all our lives."

Yet, some defended the practice, “Everyone in the UK does it. It’s a natural way to dry clothes. Stop hating y’all,” another user chimed in.

Another wrote, "Hotel needs to learn and provide hanging spot inside the balcony. Maybe a drying rack or a few clothing lines that can be removed when not in need. Hotel’s fault, frankly. User experience is an ongoing thing."