No Painted Houses, No Black Clothes, No Shoes! Inside MP’s 400-Year-Old Village Traditions That Still Govern Everyday Life In Ratlam

Nestled around 90 kilometers from Ratlam district headquarters, Kachhaliya village in Madhya Pradesh defies the passage of time with its centuries-old customs. This village, home to nearly 1,200 residents in approximately 700 houses, maintains traditions that have persisted for over four centuries. Among these is the practice of leaving houses unpainted, a belief linked to an incident of disrespect towards Baba Kaleshwar, which is thought to bring misfortune.

Even new houses built under government schemes like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana adhere to this custom. Residents also shun black clothes and footwear, as well as filtering drinking water through cloth, which they consider contrary to tradition. Teacher Anil Pathak, who has lived in the village for three decades, attests to the continuity of these practices through generations.

Another unique aspect of Kachhaliya is the Dhulandi ceremony, where hundreds of devotees walk barefoot over burning embers during the Chul ritual at the temple. This event attracts participants from neighboring regions. The village's population comprises individuals from Rajput, Dhakad, Goswami, and other communities, all of whom uphold these traditions.

Despite the presence of modern amenities and changing lifestyles, the villagers firmly believe that following the rituals at the shrines of Baba Kaleshwar and Bhairav Baba helps fulfill their wishes.