Living with the diverse traditions, cultures and heritages, Malana is not-so popular but have an untold, unseen glory behind it.
Lurking in the North east Kullu range, Malana is completely isolated from the monotony of Indipa’s city culture. This remote village is mainly known for it’s charas, and has over time drawn hashish lovers from all over the world. But Malana is so much more than that. It is a best place to keep secrets of the country.
Malana is one of the oldest standing democracies of the world, with the small village managing it’s own affairs even today.
This land is shadowed by the majestic Chandrakhani and Deotibba has always been kind to tourists, fiercely and silently guarding it’s own culture. When in Malana, be sure not to touch the walls or belongings of the natives unless you want a fine imposed. Crazy as that may sound, they don’t even eat food cooked by a non-native.
Like rest of India, the village of Malana has its own religious beliefs. Apart from their undying faith in Shiva , they believe in their Devta , Jamlu Rishi. It is said that the sage from the Puranas once inhabited the land and laid the foundation of the democracy, which still works as a fully functional parliamentary system.
The Malanese resolve conflicts based on the death of lambs
The Malanese are people of faith which is clear with one look at their judicial system. In no way practical, the judiciary of Malana contrasts itself from the Indian Judicial system. When there is an impending decision to solve a conflict, t hey cut the right foreleg of each lamb one and a half inch deep, stuff it with poison and sew it back with the help of needle and thread. The person whose lamb dies first is implied to lose the judgement. It is believed that the decision is taken by their Devta
.The people here believe that the mountains make their own rules. The significance of faith is really important to these people, which is why they still ask their Devta who to vote for.
The entire village votes for the person chosen by their deity. The deity’s spokesperson is called “Gur” . It is believed that Jamblu Devta either comes into the body of the spokesperson to make people know of his decision or the spokesperson dreams about it.
Today Malana cream has won the Best Hashish title twice, in 1994 and 1996, at High Times magazine’s Cannabis Cup. The village is a stoners paradise branded in travel and ganja-hunting literature as the exotic and alluring “ Malana and the Magic Valley.”
