Latest news with #JodidarPratha
Mint
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- 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
4 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
Himachal brothers who married same woman open up on relationship: ‘Sole purpose of marriage was…'
Weeks after a bride married two grooms in a rare 'Hatti' traditional marriage in Himachal Pradesh, the two brothers have opened up on the ceremony and the public criticism on social media. Two Hatti tribe brothers marry the same woman in a traditional polyandry ceremony in Himachal Pradesh's Shillai village.(X-@BalbirKumar23) The two brothers- Pradeep and Kapil Negi, from the Hatti tribe of Himachal, said that the 'Jodidar Pratha' has been going on for generations and that the tradition was not imposed upon them. "This Jodidar Pratha has been going on for generations. It is not that we married under the tradition for the first time. It has been practised in the past and continues to be practised at present," Pradeep Negi said in a video, posted on Facebook. His brother, Kapil Negi, said that the three married with their consent and it was their mutual decision. Also Read: 1 wife, 2 brothers as husbands in this Himachal wedding: What's the rare tradition and why is it practised? "In other states, there are traditions that are imposed on the people. But we don't have any such tradition. We are not forced to follow the tradition. We got married with our consent. It was our mutual decision," Kapil said. The two brothers from the Shillai village in Himachal's Sirmaur district married the same woman in a rare polyandrous ceremony, locally known as 'Jodidara'. The rare marriage which began on July 12, not only drew hundreds of villagers, but was also the topic of widespread discussion on social media. Though polyandry is rare in Himachal, the Jodidara practice continues to be recognised under the state's revenue laws. Meanwhile, the brothers said that the practice is not only restricted to Himachal, but continues to be practised in the Jaunsar-Bawar area of Uttarakhand. Also Read: Himachal woman opens up about her marriage to two brothers in rare tradition: 'I was…' Pradeep Negi, while speaking on the rare tradition, said that the brothers and the bride agreed to the marriage and it was not imposed upon them. "In this marriage, all the three of us agreed to it (marriage). Both families were ready for the marriage," he said. He also said that the three have received abusive reactions to their photos and videos on social media, adding "we are happy with our lives." "Many people are abusing us on our photos and videos on social media. I want to tell them that, don't think that you are abusing me. We are happy with our lives. We are promoting our tradition and culture," Pradeep added. Pradeep also said that they come from a poor family. His brother, added, that they didn't get married to become famous. "We didn't had any intention of making the (Facebook) page. We didn't married with the intention of getting famous. The news went across India. We married in a normal way," Kapil said. Adding to that, Pradeep said, "The sole purpose of this marriage was to remain together and continue to love each other. We pray that the love between the brothers continue," he added.
NDTV
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- 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.
News18
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
'Abuses Don't Bother Us': Himachal Brothers Who Married Same Bride Finally End Silence
Last Updated: Pradeep Negi said he has done nothing wrong and chose this marriage to uphold cultural values, with the aim of staying together and maintaining mutual love Two brothers from Shillai village in Himachal Pradesh's Sirmaur district have made headlines after marrying the same woman, an unusual union that has drawn widespread media attention across India and abroad. After weeks of silence, the brothers have now spoken out to share their side of the story. The practice, known as Jodidar Pratha, involves multiple brothers marrying the same woman. Pradeep Negi, one of the newly-wed grooms, explained that this tradition has been prevalent for centuries and will continue in the future. He emphasised that Jodidar Pratha is not exclusive to their area but also exists in Jaunsar-Bawar, Uttarakhand. He mentioned that in many such marriages, both grooms exchange garlands. Pradeep's brother, Kapil Negi, clarified that unlike forced marriages in some states, their marriage was consensual. Both brothers and their bride are in agreement with this arrangement, and their family fully supports the union. Despite facing criticism on social media, Pradeep remains undeterred and committed to promoting their cultural customs. 'Some people are abusing us on social media, but it doesn't matter to me," Pradeep said. 'I will continue to promote our culture and customs. People who know nothing about our traditions are also trying to give their opinion. This marriage happened with the consent of all of us, and both our family and society are happy," he added. Pradeep said he has not done anything wrong and chose this marriage to uphold his cultural values. 'The purpose of this marriage is simply to stay together and maintain mutual love. We request people not to make negative remarks, we have our own lives, and we are happy in them," he said. The marriage, conducted with the consent of both families and the local society, took place between July 12 to 14. The Negi brothers, from Shillai village's Thindo family, married Sunita from Kunhat village, adhering to full rituals. Pradeep works in the Jal Shakti Department, while Kapil is employed as a chef abroad. The tradition of multiple brothers marrying one woman in the Hati community aims to prevent the division of property and land within the family. Historically, up to five brothers could marry the same woman, although this practice has diminished over time. 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.
