Bangalore or Mumbai? Pathanamthitta gang is taking over Instagram feeds

'Nobody trolls Pathanamthitta, because no one knows whether such a district exists'; this was the narrative used by social media troll clubs over the years to unfairly ridicule the district nestled in the greens of central Kerala.

The years of ridicule might have taken a toll on the women of the state, who decided to take social media by storm. Instagram is inundated with reels of 'Pathanmthitta gang' or Pathanamthitta baddies (a parlance used to describe women who use bold makeup and thrive in streetwear).

The trend is to unveil the two shades of women who could thrive both in modern outfits and traditional ones. It begins with the baddie version, leaving the viewers to mistake the girl for being from metropolitan cities like Mumbai or Bengaluru. However, everyone would be in for a surprise when the same girl appears in a traditional outfit, announcing her hometown as Pathanamthitta.

The' baddie' version of teenage girls hailing from the stereotypically quiet, conservative, and pilgrimage-focused culture of Pathanamthitta gives the wow factor. The trend is to celebrate those Malayali women embracing bold, and glamorous fashion while also taking pride in their roots. Earlier, the district used to be the focus centre of trolls for the religious stereotypes, including black magic. However, it seems like the tide has turned.

Amidst this, criticism also found its way, claiming that those 'baddies' representing the district are now settled well abroad and doesnt even care to visit the place.

Pathanamthitta recently was criticised as a "ghost town" (or a district of "ghost homes") due to mass emigration and an ageing demographic. Most of the youngsters have left for greener pastures in search of a job or higher studies, leaving thousands of palatial mansions locked up while the town looks deserted at all times of the day.