Man's sweet gesture for wife on new car turns into a debate over money and misogyny

A man placed his wife's alta-stained footprints on their new car's bonnet. The gesture garnered praise but was also followed by misogynistic questions about her financial contribution.A man's sweet gesture towards his wife after buying a car has sparked a debate. (Photos: @SamSiff/X)New Delhi,Oct 26, 2026 11:22 ISTA husband's gesture of love for his wife has turned into an online debate over money, marriage and misogyny. The man was seen picking up his wife and placing her footprints on their new car, but some viewers were less interested in the sentiment than in whether she had contributed to its purchase.The video, which has gone viral on X and garnered millions of views, showed the man happily helping his wife place her alta-stained footprints on the car’s bonnet. The ritual resembles customs associated with Griha Pravesh, in which a bride’s alta-stained feet symbolise prosperity and auspicious beginnings as she enters her new home.While many viewers found the gesture touching, others were quick to dismiss it. Some responded with expressions of disgust, while others questioned why the woman was being honoured in a car-buying ritual. One question in particular became a talking point: “Does she pay the EMI?”Watch the video here: The remark shifted the focus from the couple’s personal gesture to the woman’s financial contribution to the vehicle. For critics of such comments, the assumption that she needed to contribute money to deserve the gesture exposed a familiar attitude: that a woman’s worth within a relationship must be justified through financial transactions.The criticism also overlooked the possibility that a couple’s contributions to a household may take different forms. A woman’s role in a family cannot always be measured by her earnings or her share of a loan repayment.Others pushed back against the criticism, pointing out the cultural significance of the gesture. People mentioned how Goddess Lakshmi is associated with wealth and prosperity, and red footprints are often considered auspicious. The act was interpreted by some viewers as an attempt to invite blessings, good fortune and protection for the new vehicle.For these users, the ritual was not about who paid for the car but about sharing a moment of happiness and marking a new purchase with a familiar cultural practice.The contrasting reactions have turned the viral video into a wider discussion about misogyny and the expectations placed on women in relationships. The question about EMI payments, in particular, has prompted criticism of the tendency to link a woman's dignity to her financial contribution.- Ends