Two brothers marry the same woman in Himachal: What is the age old custom of Hatti?
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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Deoghar district officials helps 349 lost Kanwarias return home in Jharkhand
Deoghar (Jharkhand), Jul 30 (PTI) The Deoghar administration has safely sent 349 Kanwariyas, who got lost or failed to return home after visiting Baba Temple to offer holy water during the ongoing month-long 'Shravani Mela' in Jharkhand's Deoghar district, back to their respective homes by making travel arrangements and providing financial assistance. The administration's initiative was implemented by the Central Lost and Found Centre-cum-Inter-state Information Assistance Centre set up at R L Sharraf School premises in the district, an official statement said on Wednesday. The district administration has been providing food and travel assistance to those Kanwariyas through the Central Lost and Found Centre cum Inter-State Information Assistance Centre. The objective of the initiative is to help the visiting Kanwariyas, who get separated from their families and to send them back to their homes. As part of this effort, the district administration made their travel arrangements and provided railway passes to a total of 349 such Kanwariyas so far, so that they could go back to their respective homes, the statement said. The administration has also provided financial assistance to some of them, it said. An amount of Rs 12,935 has been distributed among the lost Kanwariyas through the centre as part of the initiative so far. Meanwhile, altogether 1,99,287 Kanwariyas have offered holy water to Lord Shiva at Baba Temple in Deoghar on Tuesday, the 19th day of month-long mela. PTI Cor BS SBN SBN view comments First Published: July 30, 2025, 21:30 IST 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.
News18
3 hours ago
- News18
NCRTC launches Namo Bharat champions initiative to boost commuter engagement
New Delhi, Jul 30 (PTI) The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has launched a new initiative titled 'Namo Bharat Champions', aimed at fostering continuous improvement in services through active commuter participation, a statement issued on Wednesday said. The commuter engagement programme is based on the principle — 'for the commuters, by the commuters' — and seeks to build a collaborative platform that allows regular feedback and meaningful interaction from Namo Bharat users, the statement said. The NCRTC will under this initiative build a network of interested and like-minded commuters, who voluntarily wish to contribute towards enhancing services and infrastructure across the corridor. These champions will help promote responsible and efficient use of the Namo Bharat system and support its development through constructive suggestions and collaboration, it stated. The recognised Namo Bharat Champions, according to the statement, will also raise awareness about appropriate travel behaviour, available commuter facilities and essential do's and don'ts at stations and on trains. They will be provided with key information about the system along with important contact details for assistance when needed. The programme is also expected to function as a feedback channel to help the NCRTC continuously enhance services and commuter experience. The champions will also get access to exclusive engagement opportunities, including invitations to project launches, events and community meet-ups. The active participants may also be featured on the NCRTC's social media platforms and its official newsletter — Namo Bharat Times. The interested commuters can join the Namo Bharat Champions network by registering via QR codes displayed at stations or through the NCRTC's official website and social media platforms. The members upon registration will receive a welcome message and officially become part of the community, acting as ambassadors for responsible public transport usage, it added. PTI SHB AS AS view comments First Published: July 30, 2025, 19:45 IST 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.
News18
4 hours ago
- News18
Kerala to give homes to more survivors of Wayanad landslides
Wayanad/Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 30 (PTI) The Kerala government will provide houses to 49 more people who lost their homes in last year's devastating landslides in Mundakkai and Chooralmala in Wayanad district, bringing the total number of rehabilitation beneficiaries to 451. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday and announced by Revenue Minister K Rajan at a memorial meeting in Meppadi in Wayanad on the first anniversary of the disaster, which claimed hundreds of lives and destroyed homes, shops and farmland. The state will also compensate traders who lost shops, commercial buildings, rental properties, goods and other assets, the minister said. Survivors needing ongoing medical care will continue to receive support until December 31, with Rs 6 crore set aside from the Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund. A memorial will be built at the 'heartland" of Puthumala for Rs 93.93 lakh, with work starting before Onam. Rajan said hearings had been completed for more than 100 applicants seeking inclusion in the housing list. Those eligible will be added after verification, while others may be covered under different schemes for disaster survivors. Field inspections will begin in August. For tribal rehabilitation, the government has identified five hectares of land in the new Vellarimala village in Meppadi, where houses will be built for 13 families. Each will get a house and 10 cents of land. A committee of officials and experts will fix compensation for affected traders, the minister said. Rajan said all houses in the Elston township should be completed by December 31 if rains do not cause delays. The minister said the government's aim is to implement a comprehensive rehabilitation plan that embraces survivors and is open to any kind of social auditing. 'There may be shortcomings — we can discuss them. The government is moving forward by considering everything," he said. He also praised local residents who, before state and central rescue teams arrived, carried out 'near-impossible" rescue efforts that saved many lives. The event was attended by Ministers O R Kelu and T Siddique, District Panchayat President Samshad Marakkar, Meppadi Grama Panchayat President K Babu, senior officials and representatives of political parties. Meanwhile, the state Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, also decided to grant compensation to victims of the landslide disaster in Vilangad in Kozhikode, similar to that provided to those affected by the Chooralmala disaster. 'Livelihood compensation will be provided on the recommendation of the District Collector, and financial assistance will also be given for medical treatment," a release from the Chief Minister's Office said. PTI TGB TGB ROH view comments First Published: July 30, 2025, 18:45 IST 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.
