Latest news with #Jodidara
News18
a day 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
5 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
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Indian 'throuple' legally tie the knot in ancient tribal tradition - as woman adheres to marriage 'rota' and juggles time between two brothers
An Indian 'throuple' has legally tied the knot in an ancient tribal tradition as the wife adheres to a marriage 'rota' and splits time between two brothers, The newlyweds insist they're proud of the custom, but have since found themselves at the centre of a social media storm. The backlash against Sunita Chauhan and her two husbands - brothers Pradeep and Kapil Negi - has left the trio from the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh shaken. 'When I read some of the comments, I feel like some notorious criminal,' Pradeep told The Times. Hailing from the Shillai village in the Sirmaur district, Pradeep, Kapil, and Sunita belong to the Hatti tribe that has practiced polyandry - when a woman has more than one husband - for many years. While it is outlawed in India, the custom is protected in some of the country's tribal areas like Himalayan territories where it is known as 'Jodidara'. The ancient tradition - called 'Jodidara' - is rooted in an effort to ensure tribal land is not divided with every new generation and promoting unity between families. However, instances of polyandry are still few and far between, with Indian media outlet NDTV reporting only five such marriages have taken place within the Hatti tribe in the past six years. So when videos of Sunita, Kapil, and Pradeep's three-day wedding were circulated online, they sparked national and international scrutiny - interest that the newlyweds say has caused them distress. 'We've just withdrawn into a shell,' government employee Pradeep said. 'We're not celebrities. We're just ordinary villagers and we never expected this kind of interest.' While these weddings are usually performed in secret, Pradeep told the Press Trust of India news agency that his brother and their new bride decided to 'follow the tradition publicly.' Their three-day wedding culminated on July 12 and was held amidst massive fanfare - as the families' relatives joined hundreds of villagers from nearby areas to celebrate the union. One of the Negis' family members, Hari Singh said the marriage had brought great joy to members of their tribe as he praised Sunita, Pradeep, and Kapil - who lives and works abroad - for 'creating history by marrying publicly'. Before long, clips from the ceremony began circulating online - triggering a media storm that has forced the 'throuple' to defend themselves against criticism, including condemnation from women's rights groups. A representative for the All India Democratic Women's Association reportedly told local media called the marriage an 'act of women's exploitation' that violated the 'funfamental rights of a woman'. As per the 'Jodidara' custom, the wife spends time with the brothers as per a mutually agreed-upon rota. It is not clear whether the woman has any say in deciding this rotation. Under this kind of arrangement, the family raises any children they have together - but the elder sibling is the legal father. In some cases, children born to these tribal Indian 'throuples' are randomly assigned a father when it is not possible to determine who the biological parent is, a local politician told The Times. However, Sunita has maintained this marriage is 'my choice' in a statement to Indian newspaper The Tribune. 'We have made this commitment together, and I believe in the bond we have formed,' she said. Local politicians and administrators have also defended the 'throuple' and the practice - also known as 'Draupadi Pratha' in a reference to the Hindu epic, the Mahabharat. The story goes that its female protagonist, Draupadi, prays for a husband who is strong, handsome, noble, intelligent, and a skilled archer. Since no one man could have all these qualities, the Hindu god Shiva blesses her with five husbands - the Pandava brothers. Local lawmaker Harshwardhan Singh Chauhan told The Hindu it would be 'a rare house' in Shillai where this kind of marriage 'has not taken place'. He added that 'we have a customary law to protect polyandry' in a statement to reporters on-ground, The Straits Times reported. A local tribe leader, Kundal Lal Shastri cited the ancient Hindu epic, the Mahabharata, while justifying the custom. Jagat Singh Negi, a local politician who is known to the families but not related to the brothers, reiterated no woman from the Hatti tribe was forced into these polyandrous marriages - adding 'Sunita was perfectly happy with the proposal'. One of Sunita's husbands, Kapil - who works in the hospitality industry and doesn't live in India - added: 'We've always believed in transparency.
The Hindu
23-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Polyandry part of ancient tribal tradition, says Himachal Ministers after woman marries two men
Polyandry is not new to Himachal Pradesh and a primary reason for its prevalence in some parts of the state is keeping a family intact and the landholdings undivided, say multiple people familiar with this tradition. This anachronistic tradition came to limelight after two brothers of the Hatti tribe in Shillai village of the Transgiri area of Sirmaur district tied the knot to the same woman earlier this month. 'It is not a new tradition. Polyandry is a part of ancient tribal tradition and culture to keep the land undivided and is prevalent in parts of Kinnaur and Sirmaur districts,' said Revenue, Horticulture and Tribal Minister Jagat Singh Negi, who is the MLA from the Kinnaur constituency. Sunita Chauhan married Pradeep and Kapil Negi, saying they are proud of this tradition and have taken the decision jointly. 'The tradition is old and there would be a rare house in Shallai where such a marriage has not taken place,' said Industry Minister Harshwardhan, who represents the Shallai constituency. Revenue laws of Himachal Pradesh recognise this tradition, which is named 'Jodidara'. The tradition is also recognised under sections 494 and 495 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Himachal Pradesh's first Chief Minister, Y.S. Parmar, did research on this tradition and his Ph.D. from Lucknow University was on 'Polyandry in Himalayas 'Socio-economic background of Himalayan Polyandry'. 'According to the research of Y.S. Parmar, polyandry was prevalent in all five khand (sections) of the Himalayas from Kashmir to Nepal and there were psychological, biological and economic reasons behind the practice,' former chairman of Dr. Y.S. Parmar Chair at Himachal Pradesh University O.P. Sharma told PTI. Some segments of warrior communities, especially Khasu and Tod, believe that teh Pandavas of Mahabharata are their ancestors and willingly continue the tradition, he said, adding Parmar had also quoted statistics of screwed sex ratio which showed that the number of girls were less than boys. 'Keeping small landholdings intact and less expense on weddings were the economics behind the tradition,' he said. He asserted that Parmar 'did not encourage the practice of polyandry in view of women exploitation and I share the same views'. 'If live-in relations are accepted, then why is there an issue with age-old traditions? There are 15-20 families in my village Koti (Sirmaur district) where a woman is married to more than one man and we want the tradition to continue,' says law student Krishan Pratap Singh. Relations stay healthy in the family and land stays intact in joint marriage, says Balma Devi. Polyandry is an old tradition in which brotherhood remains and expenses are handled adequately, says Sant Ram. 'We four brothers are married to two women,' he adds. Hatti is a closed-knit community in the Himachal Pradesh-Uttarakhand border and was declared as Scheduled Tribe three years ago. In this tribe, polyandry was in vogue for centuries, but due to rising literacy among women and economic uplift of communities in the region, cases of polyandry were not reported much as it used to be a simple ceremony. 'We have got tribal status due to such old traditional practices which also find mention in revenue records. Polyandry is prevalent in about 150 villages in the Trans Giri area of Sirmaur district and is still a practising tradition in some villages. It was also prevalent in Jaunsar Babar, tribal area of Uttarakhand,' said spokesperson of Hatti Vikas Manch, Ramesh Singta. Such marriages are being solemnised in a clandestine manner and accepted by the society but instances are fewer, elders in the village said. Kundan Singh Shastri, general secretary of the prime body of the Hatti community Kendriya Hatti Samiti, said this tradition was invented thousands of years ago to save a family's agricultural land from further division. Another reason is to promote brotherhood and mutual understanding in a joint family by marrying even two or more brothers born from different mothers with a single bride, he told PTI. The third reason is a feeling of security. 'If you have a big family with more men, you are more secure in a tribal society,' he said, adding it also helps in managing scattered agriculture lands in far-flung, hard, hilly areas which requires a family for a long time for care and cultivation. These requirements of tribal families have kept the polyandry system in practice for thousands of years; though these traditions are slowly dying, Mr. Shastri added.
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]
