Here’s something I never thought I’d be writing about: Delhi now offers cuddle therapy. And if you’re chronically online, I’m sure you might have also read or heard the term somewhere. But what exactly is cuddle therapy? The concept is straightforward. You’re feeling lonely, touch-deprived, or overwhelmed by stress. A professional cuddler offers platonic physical affection in a private setting. You can watch films together, hold hands, or simply lie in comfortable silence. The promise is emotional comfort without romantic or sexual expectations.

The need is genuine. Urban loneliness is brutal. We’re all doom-scrolling through life, working insane hours, and wondering why nobody actually talks anymore. The science behind human touch is solid. Studies show that physical contact like hugging reduces cortisol, increases oxytocin, and lowers blood pressure. Touch therapy is real. But here’s the question: can touching a stranger really give you that kind of comfort or is this a potential safety threat?

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Can cuddle therapy become mainstream in Delhi?

Cuddle therapy isn’t a Delhi invention. Japan pioneered cuddle cafés over a decade ago in Tokyo, where lonely people pay thousands of yen to nap with the staff. And that makes sense in a country where nearly half of young women report being uninterested in sexual contact and loneliness is a genuine crisis.

The United States has services like The Snuggery in New York, where trained practitioners charge around US$50 for 45-minute sessions. Indonesia has a growing cuddle therapy industry as well. In these countries, the services often operate with clearer regulations, professional training requirements, and established safety protocols. In cities where this works, there’s usually some level of trust in public safety, regulations, and accountability. Delhi, on the other hand, is not that city.

Delhi has the highest crime rate against women amongst Indian states — 145 cases per 100,000 women, according to government data. Nine out of ten women report experiencing sexual harassment or violence in public spaces in their lifetime. Dating apps in Delhi already throw up scams and horror stories regularly. Metro rides require constant vigilance. Women plan their routes around safety. The question isn’t whether people deserve comfort and connection. The question is whether cuddle therapy is the best way.

The bigger problem

The problem isn’t the hug; it’s the context. Cuddle therapy depends entirely on trust, but in Delhi, that trust can be dangerously misplaced. Anyone can claim to be a “trained cuddler,” with no licensing, background checks or accountability. What happens if a session goes wrong? Who do you call? The police or your therapist? Unlike massage therapy or counselling, the boundaries here are fragile. How do you make sure the platonic stays platonic? In a city already struggling with blurred lines around consent, the concept itself becomes ripe for misuse.

A service meant to comfort could easily become a setup for manipulation, harassment, or exploitation, and Delhi’s track record doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. Perhaps the saddest part, though, is what this says about modern loneliness, that there’s a market for rented affection at all. We’ve built lifestyles in which people feel safer paying strangers to hug them than asking friends for emotional support

Delhi’s cuddle therapy isn’t about wellness; it’s about wishful thinking. It’s pretending we can import a Western trend without addressing the massive, glaring safety issues that make it dangerous here.

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