At the busy 1090 Chauraha, a popular city hangout, a huge bottle gourd (lauki) unexpectedly appeared, giving Lucknow residents a peculiar surprise. Many people stopped to take a closer look since they were intrigued by the strange sight of the enormous vegetable.

The enormous lauki turned out to be a clever marketing gimmick for the next Panchayat season. Even though it's still unclear if the cast or crew of the program will visit the location, the installation has shown itself to be a fun method to interact with the audience.

The veggie, who has grown to be a fan favourite, has a humorous role in the show. In season 4, it serves as the electoral emblem for Manju Devi (played by Neena Gupta), who is running against Sunita Rajwar's character Kranti Devi in Phulera politics.

It’s not just a gimmick. It’s clever, culturally rooted marketing that speaks the language of the audience. After all, what better way to promote a show set in a village than by dropping a massive sabzi into the cityscape?

Whether you’re a die-hard fan of Panchayat or just someone amused by a giant vegetable looming over traffic, Lucknow’s lauki moment is a brilliant blend of fandom, fun, and full-on creativity.

So if you're in the city, head over to Polytechnic and snap a pic with the star of Season 3 — because in 2025, Lucknow didn't just watch Panchayat — it lived it.