New report highlights shift towards real-world experiences among young Indians

A new cultural report titled Touching Grass by District by Zomato maps what it describes as a wider reset in India’s urban social life. The study suggests that young Indians are moving away from screen-led validation towards real-world experiences rooted in presence, texture and community.

After years of heavy digital consumption, the report observes what it calls an “analog renaissance”. Rather than rejecting technology outright, young consumers appear to be recalibrating how they spend their time and build identity. Experiences are increasingly valued for the stories they generate. Under what the report terms “Plot-First Culture”, novelty and provenance have become social currency — from community fitness classes to unconventional cultural gatherings. Notably, 83 per cent of Gen Z respondents prefer trainer-led fitness formats that demand active engagement.

Connection, too, is being redefined. In this phase of “Ambient Belonging”, low-pressure social spaces are gaining favour. Around 22 per cent of concertgoers now attend alone, while 61 per cent of diners value interactive elements such as open kitchens. Weekday socialising is also on the rise, with 40 per cent of dining out taking place between Monday and Thursday, signalling what the report calls “Dual Prime Times”.

Rahul Ganjoo, CEO, District by Zomato, said, “Since District's inception, we've been asking a simple question: 'How are people really going out today?' … These behavioral signals point to a fundamental reset: presence is returning as status.”

The report further identifies emerging micro-trends such as the “Algoditch” and “Sidequest Core”, pointing to a generation reshaping status and participation on its own terms.