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News18
9 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
How Himachal's ‘1 Bride, 2 Grooms' Tradition Works: Wife Decides — Same Room Or ‘Shoe Sign' At Door
Sunita Chauhan married brothers Pradeep and Kapil Negi in a polyandrous wedding in Himachal Pradesh, sparking debates on the ancient custom of Jodidara. In parts of Himachal Pradesh, there exists a tradition that has its roots in the Mahabharata. If you couldn't guess it, we are talking about Jodidara, aka an ancient custom of polyandry where a woman willfully gets married to two men. Recently, two brothers from Shillai village of Sirmaur district, Himachal Pradesh, got married to the same woman in accordance with rituals followed by the Hatti tribe. The incident has now grabbed the spotlight, with debates emerging around the concept of polyandrous weddings. On July 12, the bride, Sunita Chauhan, married brothers Pradeep and Kapil Negi, as a joint decision without any external pressure. The three-day event, which wrapped up on July 14, was celebrated with several 'Jajda" customs. As per a report by The Times of India, a priest performed 'Seenj", chanted mantras, sprinkled holy water and offered jaggery to invoke blessings from the Kul Devta (family deity). Return of Polyandry in Himachal? हिमाचल के सिरमौर में अनोखी शादी सुर्खियों में! दो भाइयों ने एक ही दुल्हन से की शादी, गांव वालों ने पूरी स्वीकृति दी। परंपरा या बहस? How Jodidara Works The practice of Jodidara is acknowledged in Himachal Pradesh's revenue laws. It is also linked to Sections 494 and 495 of the Indian Penal Code as a part of marital relationships. According to a PhD thesis titled Polyandry in the Himalayas: Social-economic background of Himalayan Polyandry, published by former chief minister YS Parmer, the wife has complete autonomy in deciding how time is distributed among her husbands. YS Parmer further explained that sometimes a shoe or a cap is placed outside the room to indicate that the wife is with one particular husband. 'In most cases, the wife sleeps with all her husbands in the same room… she decides, according to her own wish, which husband to be with that night. However, she performs her duties with each brother in turn. Typically, equal time is given to all husbands. Complaints rarely arise," wrote Parmer, as quoted by Hindustan Times. top videos View all Why Polyandry Exists In Himachal Pradesh Polyandry persists in Himachal Pradesh even in modern times due to social, cultural and economic factors. Some of them are land preservation, family unity and security, cultural identity and community acceptance. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
One bride, two grooms: The story of Himachal's Hattis and the tradition of polyandry
On a sun-drenched July afternoon, the beat of wedding drums echoed across the hills of Shillai, a remote Himalayan village in the Trans-Giri belt of Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur district. As villagers danced the pahari nati and showered flower petals, the bride, Sunita Chauhan, participated in the traditional wedding rituals. But what set the wedding apart was the presence of not one, but two grooms. The wedding, which has since gone viral and sparked curiosity and debate beyond the state borders, is neither scandalous nor new to the region. It is a remnant of the fading ancient practice known colloquially as Jodidara or Jajda, a form of polyandry in which one woman marries brothers. Though the tradition now survives discreetly among members of the Hatti community, the custom was common across the rugged, agrarian region until a few decades ago. 'Twenty-five years ago, it was not unusual,' says Harshwardhan Chauhan, Himachal Pradesh's Industries, Labour, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister and the MLA for Shillai. 'But in the past decade, I would estimate fewer than 50 such weddings have taken place.' For outsiders, such marriages may evoke a sense of otherness and raise questions about gender, autonomy, and modernity. But in Shillai (Sirmour) and other tribal areas of Himachal Pradesh, including Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti, polyandry is tied to land, legacy, and survival. The Hatti community — which got its name as they traditionally sold agrarian goods in marketplaces called hatts — spans about 450 villages across the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh and bordering areas of Uttarakhand. These tightly-knit agricultural communities once relied on collective labour to make ends meet. For centuries, the region's geography, steep slopes, fragmented terraced fields, and sparse infrastructure dictated a kind of economic and familial pragmatism. In this context, polyandry served a specific and functional purpose: preserving undivided ancestral land and fostering cooperation in joint families. Sitaram Sharma, chairperson, a public school in Shillai, remembers growing up in a joint household where his father and grandfather practiced Jajda. 'Only about five percent of families still follow it,' he says. 'Up until around 50 years, both polyandry and polygamy were practiced in the community. Families had no land, there were no jobs, and survival depended on staying together.' Families often had only a bigha or two of cultivable land — barely enough for one household, let alone many. To divide it further, Sharma says, would have been catastrophic. 'If four brothers married four wives, their children would split the land again and again. Jajda ensured land stayed whole, and families stayed together.' His reflections are echoed by the first chief minister of Himachal Pradesh YS Parmar, who, in his 1975 ethnographic study Polyandry in the Himalayas, wrote, 'The real reason for the existence of polyandry is economic. It is the best system suited to the conditions of the people where division of land is not possible and joint cultivation is advantageous.' Beyond economics, the practice wove an emotional lattice among siblings. 'Fraternal polyandry binds brothers together. It discourages fission in the household and promotes unity, since the brothers have a common wife, common children, and shared responsibilities,' says Sharma. It was also, in many ways, a form of population control. 'It regulated reproduction naturally. By limiting the number of wives in a family, it also limited the number of children, thereby conserving resources,' Parmar added. For many locals, especially among the older generation, the practice is sanctified by religious mythology. In the Mahabharata, Draupadi — wife to the Pandavas — is considered the first Jajda bride. 'People say, if such great men could live like this, why not us?' says Sharma. Parmar writes of it too: 'The custom has its sanction in mythology and legend. The people of the region continue to follow the example of these legendary heroes.' But today, such explanations are met with discomfort, or outright silence. A 2025 study by sociologists Shiv Kumar and Thakur Prem Kumar, published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Neonatal Surgery, attributes the decline to education and employment. 'Youngsters are hesitant,' Sharma says. 'They work in cities, some go abroad. They are scared of being mocked.' 'Earlier, people had no choice. Now people are stepping out, getting educated, watching the world through screens and books. The joint family is giving way to nuclear,' he adds. However, Shravan Kumar, 42, an assistant professor from Lahaul-Spiti, argues that such marriages are neither regressive or coercive. 'Couples in these relationships are not forced into anything,' he says. 'They live lives with perfect autonomy, not unlike traditional two-partner marriages. If the three partners do not get along, the bride or one, or both, of the grooms can initiate divorce through a simple ceremony that translates to 'breaking the thread.'' Though increasingly rare, polyandry remains prevalent across several Himalayan communities, including certain high-altitude pockets of Nepal and Tibet. Palki Tsering, a 37-year-old researcher from Kinnaur and general secretary of the Lahaul-Spiti Bodh Sangh, a local organisation focused on the welfare of the Buddhist community in the Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti regions, notes, 'Both polygamy and polyandry are indeed practiced among the Hatti community and in tribal regions of Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti. Though the practice has declined over the years, it now tends to be more consent-based rather than arranged.' Case in point: Sunita Chauhan, the bride, was quoted by news reports as saying: 'I was aware of the tradition and made my decision without any pressure. I respect the bond we have formed.' In her case, one husband, Pradeep from Shillai village, works in a government department, while the other, Kapil, is employed abroad. Tsering says the tradition originally served a practical purpose: 'In the rugged terrains of Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti, consolidating property and land was essential. One son would typically work outside the village to earn a living, while the other stayed back to manage the household and community affairs.' Even today, the economic rationale persists. Maintaining multiple households is financially burdensome, especially with the added cost of raising children. As Tsering explains, 'If brothers marry different women, they are treated as separate households and must each contribute separately to the village community. A household of three brothers with one wife is considered one household and will thus only contribute once.' Sushil Brongpa of Lahaul-Spiti, former Rajya Sabha MP, recalls encountering a study on his family at Patiala University in 1971. The book, A Study of Polyandry by Prince Peter of Greece and Denmark, was published by Cambridge University Press. Brongpa shared, 'My uncle and father had a common wife, and I, too, share a wife with my uncle's son. The system ensured that both land and the family stayed together.' Wedding rituals in these regions also diverge notably from typical North Indian customs. Rather than a groom arriving with a baraat, the entire village often visits the grooms' house. The ceremony includes offerings of jaggery and invocation of the Kul Devta (family deity). A unique ritual called Seenj is performed at the groom's residence. Brongpa recalls simpler forms of marriage in earlier times: 'With limited resources, 'gandharv' weddings — unions without elaborate rituals — were common. Sometimes, the elder brother and his friends would simply bring the bride home. In some cases, a bottle of liquor sufficed as a symbolic shagun, or a small advance would be given as a token for the woman's security.' Under Indian law, polyandry is not legally recognised. The Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 and the Special Marriage Act require monogamy, that is, neither party may have a living spouse at the time of marriage. Section 82 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) criminalises bigamy with up to seven years' imprisonment. If the prior marriage was concealed from the new spouse, the imprisonment can extend to 10 years. However, these laws do not automatically apply to members of Scheduled Tribes (STs) unless extended by the central government. This legal loophole allows for customary practices, like Jodidara, to survive in tribal regions. Under Section 13 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, a longstanding custom can be admitted in court as a legal right. Courts have repeatedly upheld this principle, especially when it concerns family law in tribal communities. The Hatti community in Sirmaur shares deep-rooted kinship ties and cultural practices with Jaunsar-Bawar — an area that was historically part of the princely state of Sirmaur before its incorporation into modern-day Uttarakhand. Today, the Tons River serves as both a geographic and policy boundary: while the Jaunsari Hatti on the Uttarakhand side are recognised as a Scheduled Tribe, their counterparts in Himachal continue to await similar protections. Though Parliament passed a bill to grant them ST status in 2022, the Himachal Pradesh High Court stayed its implementation in January 2024, citing 'manifest arbitrariness' in the classification process. The case is currently sub judice. Both Harshwardhan and former Deputy Advocate General Himachal Pradesh Chander Mohan Thakur note that despite lack of formal recognition to the Hatti community in Himachal Pradesh several court cases involving the Hatti community in Himachal have been settled under customary law, specifically the Jodidara system. Thakur cites the Lokur Committee Report (1965), according to which the first official criteria for identifying a Scheduled Tribe was: 'primitive traits, distinctive culture, geographical isolation, shyness of contact, and backwardness.' 'Any custom that contradicts public policy can be struck down. But when it comes to tribal communities, their custom prevails over general law,' says Thakur. MLA Harshwardhan agrees: 'There are several tribal traits in the Trans-Giri region, and that includes polyandry. Customary law takes precedence in such cases. Several disputes have been resolved under these customs.' Revenue officers, too, often encounter the system in land records. 'When a new official comes in,' Sharma says, 'we have to explain how Jodidara works — one wife, at least two fraternal husbands, one household.' Aishwarya Khosla is a journalist currently serving as Deputy Copy Editor at The Indian Express. Her writings examine the interplay of culture, identity, and politics. She began her career at the Hindustan Times, where she covered books, theatre, culture, and the Punjabi diaspora. Her editorial expertise spans the Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Punjab and Online desks. She was the recipient of the The Nehru Fellowship in Politics and Elections, where she studied political campaigns, policy research, political strategy and communications for a year. She pens The Indian Express newsletter, Meanwhile, Back Home. Write to her at or You can follow her on Instagram: @ink_and_ideology, and X: @KhoslaAishwarya. ... Read More
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
'We're proud of It': Himachal brothers marry same woman under age-old Hatti tradition
India's vibrant cultural diversity is globally admired, with every state cherishing traditions rooted deeply in heritage, belief, and history. One such tradition recently made headlines from Himachal Pradesh, where a rare marital custom gained widespread notice. In Shillai village of the state's Sirmaur district, a traditional three-day wedding ceremony turned heads as two brothers from the tribal Hatti community tied the knot with the same woman — an age-old custom still observed by a few. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category PGDM Digital Marketing CXO Public Policy Product Management Cybersecurity others Artificial Intelligence Design Thinking MBA Project Management MCA Data Analytics Data Science Operations Management Degree Technology Others Leadership Healthcare healthcare Finance Data Science Management Skills you'll gain: Financial Analysis & Decision Making Quantitative & Analytical Skills Organizational Management & Leadership Innovation & Entrepreneurship Duration: 24 Months IMI Delhi Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Online) Starts on Sep 1, 2024 Get Details What happened? Pradeep and Kapil Negi, both belonging to the Hatti tribe, married Sunita Chauhan from Kunhat village in a polyandrous ceremony. The marriage, steeped in tribal rituals and cultural symbolism, lasted three days and included vibrant folk performances and community participation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Elin Nordegren Show Off Her Huge Size In New Vacation Photos 33 Bridges Undo The couple emphasized that the union was completely consensual. 'We followed the tradition publicly as we are proud of it and it was a joint decision,' said Pradeep. Kapil further added, 'We're ensuring support, stability and love for our wife as a united family… We've always believed in transparency.' Sunita, too, affirmed her choice, stating, 'She was aware of the Hatti custom locally called 'Jodidara' or 'Jajda' and became a part of the union willingly, respecting the bond they had formed.' Understanding the tradition The tradition of polyandry in the Hatti community stems from practical and social needs. Historically, it helped prevent the division of family-owned farmland and maintained family cohesion, especially in the challenging, mountainous terrain of Himachal. As Kundan Singh Shastri, general secretary of the Kendriya Hatti Samiti, explained, 'If you have a bigger family, more men, you are more secure in a tribal society.' Live Events While such customs are rarely practiced today, they are still legally recognized in Himachal Pradesh under revenue laws by the name 'Jodidara.' This culturally significant event reflects how traditional customs continue to shape rural communities, offering insight into the enduring role of heritage in people's lives — even as modern society evolves. [With TOI inputs]
Time of India
20-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Two brothers marry the same woman in Himachal: What is the age old custom of Hatti?
India is well known across the world for its diverse cultures and traditions, where each state has cultures woven deep into the fabric of time, belief, history, and rich legacy. Following the same traditions in Himachal Pradesh, a recent marriage in Shillai village of the state has caught national attention. In a culturally rich three-day ceremony, two brothers from a specific tribe married the same woman, following an age-old custom. Surprisingly, the decision was openly embraced rather than hidden, inviting us to know how impactfully a cultural practice can shape community values and family life in the remote regions. What exactly happened? Recently, two brothers from Himachal Pradesh's Hatti tribe, named Pradeep and Kapil Negi, married the same woman, Sunita Chauhan of Kunhat village, by a culturally important polyandrous ceremony. The three-day event was held in Shillai village of Sirmaur district and saw hundreds of villagers participate along with performances of folk songs, traditional dances, and local rituals, as per local reports. According to reports from PTI, the couple stressed that the decision was mutual and made without external pressure. 'We followed the tradition publicly as we are proud of it and it was a joint decision,' Pradeep shared, while Kapil added, 'We're ensuring support, stability and love for our wife as a united family… We've always believed in transparency'. Sunita also said that her participation was voluntary. She said she was aware of the Hatti custom locally called 'Jodidara' or 'Jajda' and became a part of the union willingly, respecting the bond they had formed. What is this tradition all about? Polyandry in the Hatti community arose to prevent division of ancestral farmland, maintain family unity, and ensure joint responsibility in remote, agrarian settings. As Kundan Singh Shastri, general secretary of the Kendriya Hatti Samiti, explained, this tradition allowed for stronger security and unity among brothers working scattered plots in the mountainous terrain, 'If you have a bigger family, more men, you are more secure in a tribal society'. Although this practice remains rare today, it remains legally recognised under Himachal Pradesh's revenue laws as 'Jodidara.' Is polygamy legal in India? Although polyandry is not legally sanctioned under the Hindu Marriage Act, customary exceptions are allowed for certain tribal communities. The Hatti people were granted Scheduled Tribe status in 2022, providing limited legal protection for such customs.
India Today
20-07-2025
- General
- India Today
Why two brothers married one bride in Himachal and is it legal?
In a rare instance of polyandrous marriage, two brothers from Himachal Pradesh's Hatti tribe tied the knot with the same woman in a traditional ceremony locally known as Jodidara. The three-day celebration took place in Shillai village of Sirmaur district, beginning on July 12, and drew hundreds of guests with vibrant local music and bride, Sunita Chauhan married two brothers, Pradeep and Kapil Negi, in a traditional ceremony held on July 12 in Shillai village, Himachal Pradesh. The three-day celebrations featured local folk songs, dances, and were attended by hundreds of guests. The marriage was solemnised under the longstanding polyandry who works in a government department, said, 'We followed the tradition publicly as we are proud of it, and it was a joint decision.' Kapil, employed abroad, added, 'We're ensuring support, stability and love for our wife as a united family. We've always believed in transparency.' Sunita said, 'I was aware of the tradition and made my decision without any pressure.' WHAT IS POLYANDRY, AND WHY IS IT PRACTISED? Polyandry—where a woman marries multiple men, usually brothers—was once common among the Hatti tribe, especially in Sirmaur. Known as Jodidara or Jajda, this form of marriage remains recognised under Himachal Pradesh's revenue laws. The Hatti community, granted Scheduled Tribe status three years ago, inhabits the Trans-Giri region along the Himachal Pradesh–Uttarakhand custom is common not only in Himachal's Kinnaur district but also in Jaunsar Babar, a tribal area of to Kundan Singh Shastri, general secretary of the Kendriya Hatti Samiti, the polyandry system helped prevent the division of ancestral land among multiple heirs. 'This tradition was invented thousands of years ago to save a family's agricultural land from further division,' PTI quoted him as explained that beyond preserving land, polyandry fosters unity among brothers and preserves the joint family system, which is vital in remote hilly terrains. 'If you have a bigger family, more men, you are more secure in a tribal society,' he said, adding that the tradition helps manage scattered agricultural lands requiring long-term collective also noted that Jajda encourages brotherhood and mutual understanding, especially when brothers from different mothers marry the same woman. Economic needs and the demands of farming in far-flung areas have translated into this socio-cultural IS THE WEDDING PERFORMED?The wedding, called Jajda, begins with the bride's procession to the groom's village. A ritual named Seenj is performed at the groom's residence, where a priest chants mantras in the local dialect and sprinkles holy ceremony ends with the couple being offered jaggery and blessings from the Kul Devta (family deity), symbolising a sweet and harmonious life its historical and cultural significance, polyandry is declining due to rising literacy, changing socio-economic conditions, and evolving gender roles. Many communities now solemnise such marriages discreetly. IS IT LEGAL?The custom is recognised under Himachal Pradesh's revenue laws. The Hattis are governed by the Hindu Marriage Act and for official purposes. However, there are provisions in Indian laws to protect the customs and traditions of other tribal an interview with last year, Kundan Singh Shastri, general secretary of Hatti Central Coimmittee, said 'Jodidaran' will die a slow death as more villagers become educated and shift to cities for to the recent polyandry in Sirmaur district, Ransingh Chauhan, a lawyer, said the practice has been prevalent in the region for decades and stressed it was legally recognised by the Himachal Pradesh High Court under the 'Jodidar Law'."Hundreds of marriages happen through polyandry and other age-old traditions. Media highlighted the marriage in Shillai prominently and they should not be astonished as this is a regular phenomenon. The practice is being done to ensure that families stay united and lands are not divided among themselves," Chauhan, a legal advisor for the Central Hatti Committee, told India Today's TV sister channel, Aaj Tak. - Ends advertisement
