• Source:JND

Malana Viral Video: Hidden in the hills of Himachal Pradesh’s Kullu valley lies Malana, a village unlike any other in India, and a recent social media video has brought its unusual customs into the spotlight. In the clip, a woman can be seen placing money on the ground outside a shop, which the shopkeeper later picks up and returns the change the same way. For many viewers, this simple exchange seemed unusual, sparking curiosity and debate online. The woman, Tushika Agarwal, shared the video on social media along with a detailed explanation.

She wrote, "I was not even allowed to enter the shop even," highlighting how strict the village’s social rules are. According to her, Malana follows "a code entirely its own," where outsiders are not allowed to touch temples, homes, or even the villagers themselves. Physical contact by non-locals is believed to disturb ritual purity, so interactions are kept deliberately distant.

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Money, Tushika explained, is "never exchanged hand-to-hand" and is instead placed on the ground for locals to pick up. She added, "only Malana villagers may touch one another or their sacred spaces," showing how the community protects its customs. Tushika summed up her experience by saying, "In a country defined by diversity, Malana remains one of the rare places where isolation is not accidental, but a deliberate preservation of identity, belief, and centuries-old tradition."

Watch The Viral Video:

The video quickly went viral, gathering over 27 million views and sparking widespread discussion. While many were fascinated by the village’s traditions, others criticised the practice as discriminatory, questioning whether customs should override inclusivity in modern times.

"Untouchability discrimination is also a discrimination that is not justified by saying traditional rituals," a user wrote. "This is called a cultural double standard. People from outside are not allowed to touch locals or enter inside the shops but the money touched by outsiders are picked up without hesitation," a second user wrote.

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"Would never go there, this is not respecting their belief, this is straight discrimination and insult to outsiders," wrote a third user. "I have posted a clarification video regarding this on my feed, check that out for all your doubts!!" added a fourth user. "I can’t reply to every single comment, so I would be making a Part 2 to clarify all the doubts and misunderstandings going on around. Do follow for that," added a fifth user.


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