10 Lesser Known Secrets That Malana Has Been Keeping To Itself

 As the first rays of sunlight broke over the snow-capped peaks and  reached the interior of the Dragon guest house, a score of men began to  stir. They had been smoking hashish and  drinking whiskey all night long until the early morning hours. By the  time it was noon, they lit up and began smoking again. They did not move from their places until sleep overtook them. And the cycle continued. This is the vacation for many tourists in Malana, a tiny village  amidst the lush green and shimmering snow-capped mountains of the  Parvati valley, 9500 ft above sea level. Coveted as the city of the best  hashish in the world, the villagers of this ancient city have been  keeping several secrets to themselves. So let us, together, unravel the secrets of Malana. 

1. The Village That Grows The World’s Best Hashish, Shh….

 We know it’s more like an open secret and the village is actually  famous for this very feature. Malana is famous for ‘Malana cream’, a  strain of Cannabis hashish, which has high oil content and an intensely  fragrant aroma. But did you know that the Malana cream is also the most  expensive hashish in the Amsterdam menu?

2. The ‘Touch-Me-Not’ Villagers

 One cannot touch them or their belongings without their permission.  The people are friendly but outsiders are told to keep distance and not  touch anything in the village. The shopkeepers will ask you to keep the  money on the counter and place the goods on the counter, without any  physical contact. In case of any contact, they will rush for a bath. 

3. Not-So-Camera-Shy Villagers

 The villagers are always willing to pose for a photograph but videography is strictly prohibited. 

4. It’s A Greek Thing! The Descendants Of Alexander The Great

 They consider themselves to be descendants of Alexander the Great and  their local court system even today reflects the ancient Greek system. 

5. The Malana Superiors: Looking Down Upon The Rest

 They consider themselves to be superior to the rest. That is why they  refrain from physical contact. Their language, Kanashi, is considered  sacred and outsiders from other villages are not allowed to use the  same. Tourists are not allowed to enter the temples either for they  consider outsiders as untouchables.  

6. Malana: The Village Of Taboos

 In addition to the taboo on physical contact and use of Kanashi by an outsider, there are many other restrictions.  

• According to village rules, fixing nails on a tree is prohibited as that could damage the tree.
• Burning wood is also prohibited in the forests of Malana.
• Only dry twigs and branches are permitted to be carried outside the forest.
• Similarly, hunting of wild animals is not allowed without the  permission of the village council that too only during specific periods  of the year.
• In case wild animals attack the herds of sheep and goats of the  villagers the hunters are sent from the village to the pastures to kill  them. And if a bear is killed, the hunter is rewarded but has to deposit  the fur in the Bhandara of the Devta.
• Police intervention is not allowed, but if the accused wants to seek  the help of police he has to pay a fine of Rs 1000/- to the village  council.

7. Men of Faith, Less of Reason: Resolving conflicts based on the death of lambs

 The judiciary in Malana is different from that in the rest of India  in many ways. They believe in a godly approach over the rational one. In  a difficult decision to solve a conflict, they make a deep cut in the  foreleg of a lamb each of the two parties, poison it, and then sew it  back with needle. The person whose lamb dies first is said to lose the  case.  

8. Similarity In Architecture Of Houses

 Houses in Malana are two or three storied and each storey has a  specific name and purpose. The ground floor is called Khudang, which  acts as a cattle shed and where the firewood and fodder for the sheep  and goats are stored. The first floor called Gaying is used to store  eatables, wool and for weaving woolen fabric. The top floor with an  overhanging balcony is called Pati – it is the actual living quarter.  The houses are built of alternate bands of stove and limber. The inner  walls are plastered with mud. The outer side is entirely made up of wood  and acts as a verandah.  

9. Not Too Educated, Eh!

 PRIMARY EDUCATION: There is one Government primary  school manned by one teacher, Roshan Lal, a resident of Kulu. There are  100 children on roll in this school. 

MIDDLE SCHOOL: There is another middle school headed  by Naresh Patiyal, the science teacher with Jagpal Shastri, the  Sanskrit teacher and Jog Raj Rana, the history teacher. The middle  school was established in 1996. Although there are four teachers the  number of students is only 13. Up to the primary school midday meals are  provided. Girl students are provided free books. So far only two students in the village have managed to reach class 12! 

10. Celebrate Malana Shaun On 15th August

 Malana Fagli is celebrated in mid of February while Malana Shaun is celebrated on 15th August. 

Fagli: Harlala Mask Dance Festival, celebrated in  the month of February, is an occasion when everybody takes a bath. A  group of people wearing nothing but cannabis leaves and demon-like masks  dance around the houses spreading cow dung, which provides insulation  from the cold as well. Another interesting aspect of the festival is the  procession for Emperor Akbar.  

 So, why not enjoy this weekend in the valley and share your experiences of the Malana Shaun with me!