Malana, a secluded village in Himachal Pradesh, has long been associated with narratives of sacred authority, cultural distinctiveness, and contested heritage. This paper, “Cultural Narrative and Material Heritage of Malana in Himachal: Towards a Cross-Cultural Framework ”, explores how material culture—ritual artefacts, architectural forms, and oral traditions—mediates identity and sustains collective memory in contexts of marginality. By situating Malana within comparative heritage frameworks, the study examines resonances between local narratives of divine sanction and ancestral continuity and broader cross-cultural paradigms, particularly the thought, which emphasizes legitimacy, authority, and the transmission of cultural meaning across time. The paper argues that Malana’s material heritage can be understood not only as a repository of local identity but also as part of a wider dialogue with ancient traditions of cultural legitimacy and narrative construction. Through ethnographic insights and comparative analysis, the research highlights how Malana’s practices of ritual continuity, spatial organization, and mythic storytelling intersect with external perceptions of authenticity, exoticism, and heritage value. In doing so, it foregrounds the dynamic interplay between indigenous epistemologies and global heritage discourses, revealing how cultural narratives are continually reconstituted through negotiation and selective remembrance. Ultimately, the paper proposes a cross-cultural framework that bridges Himalayan and classical traditions, offering new pathways for understanding heritage governance, identity formation, and the ethics of representation. This approach underscores the importance of integrating local agency with comparative perspectives to foster inclusive and sustainable heritage practices.

First Author: SHEETAL RANA

Keywords:
Malana
Kullu
Himachal Pradesh
Cultural Narrative
Cross-Cultural
Material Heritage