Latest news with #PradeepNegi
Mint
2 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
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- 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.
News18
4 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.
Daily Mail
25-07-2025
- 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.
CTV News
23-07-2025
- General
- CTV News
India brothers marry same woman in ancient custom
The Himalayan mountain ranges are seen from Shimla, the capital of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, Sunday, Feb. 4, 2007. (AP Photo/Anil Dayal) Shimla, India -- A pair of brothers in rural India have married the same woman, upholding an ancient custom and sparking criticism from a women's rights group after photos of the wedding went viral. Polyandry is banned in India but is legal in some of the tribal pockets, including Himalayan territories, allowing preservation of some ancient traditions. The grooms, Pradeep and Kapil Negi, married Sunita Chauhan in a three-day wedding witnessed by hundreds of villagers and relatives on July 12 in the Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh. During the ceremony, the trio from the Hatti tribe circled a fire considered sacred as villagers sang folksongs. 'We followed the tradition publicly as we are proud of it and it was a joint decision,' Pradeep said, according to the Press Trust of India news agency. His brother Kapil added: 'We're ensuring support, stability and love for our wife as a united family.' One of the brothers is a government employee and the other works overseas. Under the custom, the wife shifts between brothers on a mutually agreed schedule and the family raises the children together. The eldest brother is named the legal father. The All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA), a women's rights group, condemned the wedding. 'Such acts of women's exploitation... go against the fundamental rights of a woman,' AIDWA general secretary Mariam Dhawale told local media. Around 300,000 members of the Hatti tribe live in small villages in the remote Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh. Local lawmaker Harshwardhan Singh Chauhan defended the practice, saying polyandry has long been a tradition of the Sirmaur people. 'We have a customary law to protect polyandry,' he told reporters, after photos of the marriage went viral on social media. Kundal Lal Shashtri, a local Hatti leader, justified the custom by citing the ancient Indian epic Mahabharata, in which the character Draupadi married five brothers.
