Two Himachali brothers marry same woman under traditional polyandry custom

The brothers, Pradeep and Kapil Negi, tied the knot with Sunita Chauhan in a public ceremony in Shillai village of Sirmaur district.

Pradeep said they followed the tradition publicly as they are proud of it, and it was a joint decision.

His brother, Kapil, who works abroad, added that together they would ensure support, stability, and love for their wife and raise a united family.

He stated that they have always believed in transparency.

The three-day celebration, which began on July 12, was attended by hundreds and featured folk music and local dance forms. Videos from the wedding have since gone viral on social media.

Sunita, who hails from nearby Kunhat village, said she was aware of the tradition and had willingly agreed to the marriage.

The bride said she respected the bond she had formed with the two men. 

The state’s revenue laws recognise such unions under the term “Jodidara”.

According to a PTI report, at least five polyandrous marriages have taken place in nearby Badhana village in the past six years.

The Hatti community, which was granted Scheduled Tribe status in 2022, is spread across about 450 villages in the Trans-Giri region along the Himachal–Uttarakhand border.

Though polyandry has become increasingly rare due to rising literacy, social changes and economic development, village elders say it continues to be quietly practised and remains socially acceptable in some areas.

Kundan Singh Shastri, general secretary of the Kendriya Hatti Samiti, said the tradition evolved as a practical response to the challenges of life in remote hill regions.

According to Shastri, the practice helped keep landholdings undivided and ensured adequate labour to manage farmlands.

Polyandry, he added, also fostered unity in joint families, even among half-brothers.

Similar customs once existed in neighbouring tribal belts such as Jaunsar Babar in Uttarakhand and Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh.