
Why some women in the hills still marry two men
Team TOI Plus
Jul 24, 2025, 18:35 IST IST
In the hills where land is scarce and labour is shared, polyandry still finds quiet legitimacy — and this wedding, with its music, rituals, and pride, made it visible again
It's usually the groom who arrives in a baraat. But in this Himachal wedding, it was the bride who was brought in a procession.
But that is not why the wedding is being talked about around the country. Waiting at the family home where the bride-led baraat arrived were two grooms – brothers Pradeep and Kapil Negi.

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Mint
5 hours ago
- Mint
Himachal brothers defend marriage to same woman, cite century-old custom
Two brothers from Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur district have defended their decision to marry the same woman, saying the arrangement follows a centuries-old community tradition. Pradeep Negi and Kapil Negi, from Shillai's Thindo family, married Sunita Chauhan of Kunhat village last month under the 'Jodidar Pratha'-- a form of fraternal polyandry practised among the Hatti community in the Trans-Giri region. The custom, also known locally as 'Jodidara,' is followed in certain parts of Himachal Pradesh and neighbouring Uttarakhand. In a video posted on Facebook, elder brother Pradeep said the practice is 'deeply rooted in culture' and is not a matter of personal publicity. 'This is our tradition, and we are not ashamed of it. We are not affected by social media criticism. Similar customs also exist in Uttarakhand's Jaunsar-Bawar region,' he said. Younger brother Kapil emphasised that the marriage was consensual. 'Our wife, our family, and both of us agreed to it. This was not forced. We have our community's blessing,' he said. The brothers explained that the primary purpose of such marriages has historically been to prevent ancestral farmland from being divided among heirs — an important consideration for families living in the hills. Traditionally, the eldest brother is regarded as the legal father of children born from such unions. The three-day wedding, held from July 12 in Shillai, featured folk music, traditional dances, and community celebrations. Urging people to respect their choice, Pradeep said, 'We want to stay united and keep love among us. We are happy, and we don't want unnecessary judgment from outsiders.'


Hindustan Times
6 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Himachal brothers, who married same woman, respond to online trolling
Two brothers from Himachal Pradesh's Hatti tribe have defended their marriage to the same woman and responded to online trolling, calling it a centuries-old tradition practised with consent. Two brothers from Himachal Pradesh's Hatti tribe married the same woman.(Facebook/ Sirmouri Joridar Bhai) Pradeep Negi, who works with the Jal Shakti department, and Kapil Negi, both from Thindo village in the Shillai region, said they married Sunita from nearby Kunhat village between July 12 and 14. They added that the ceremony was performed with the consent of both families and in line with local rituals and customs. Speaking via their Facebook page after allegedly facing online trolling, the brothers said such marriages are neither rare nor forced in their community. 'Joridar pratha has been practised for centuries and will continue. It's not unique to our village. It exists in neighbouring Uttarakhand's Jaunsar-Bawar region too,' said Pradeep. 'Our marriage was a mutual decision. Our family agreed, we agreed, and no one in our village has a problem,' he added. Addressing the abuse they allegedly received on social media, Pradeep urged critics to be respectful. 'When you use abusive language, remember you have mothers, sisters, and daughters too. We are happy in our lives and living with joy. You are not actually abusing us, you're abusing them,' said Pradeep Negi. He also said they have 'promoted their culture' and have 'no shame in it,' calling it the identity of the Hatti community, and said people should promote their own cultures too. The brothers also thanked those who had supported them and said the marriage was not for fame. 'We had no intention of creating a Facebook page or becoming famous. This was destined by God. We married like any other couple, the news spread, and later people suggested we make the page,' Kapil said. Kapil said that he and his brother had always lived with 'love and affection,' and the decision to marry one woman would keep them together.


NDTV
a day ago
- NDTV
Himachal 'Jodidar' Brothers Break Silence Over Marrying The Same Woman
The two Himachal Pradesh brothers who married the same woman have defended their decision, saying the public criticism did not affect them, adding they took pride in the centuries-old tradition of the Hatti clan. The Negi brothers of Shillai's Thindo family married Sunita Chauhan from Kunhat village under the traditional polyandrous custom, 'Jodidar Pratha.' The decision, they explained, underlined the significance of 'Jodidara,' the regional word for fraternal polyandry, and went beyond personal conviction. In a video posted to Facebook, Pradeep Negi said the tradition had been followed for generations and would continue. "I don't care that some people are abusing us on social media," Pradeep said. He added that the " Jodidar Pratha" was not exclusive to their region; it exists in Jaunsar-Bawar, Uttarakhand, where both grooms trade garlands with the same woman at such marriages. Kapil Negi, his brother, explained that their marriage was voluntary, compared to forced marriages in certain places. This arrangement was acceptable to both brothers and their wife, and their families were completely in favour of the marriage. "I will keep advocating for our traditions and culture. Individuals unfamiliar with our customs are also attempting to express their opinions. All of us agreed to this marriage, and our family and society are pleased," Pradeep continued. Pradeep said that they hailed from a low-income family with little property and no ambition for stardom. "We didn't get married to make headlines," his brother Kapil said. "The sole purpose of this marriage is to remain together and continue to love each other. We ask people not to criticise us because we have our own lives and we are content with them," Pradeep concluded. The wedding took place at Shillai hamlet, in the Trans-Giri region of the Sirmaur district. Commencing on July 12, the marriage ceremony took place over three vibrant days, marked by dances, local folk songs, and the distinct flair of a communal celebration. The age-old custom has long been followed for its ability to prevent ancestral land from being divided, a major issue for highland farming communities. The eldest brother is often acknowledged as the legal father of the kids born in such marriages.