'We're proud of it...' say two Himachal brothers after marrying the same woman

In a rare and talked-about event, two brothers from Himachal Pradesh’s Hatti tribe got married to the same woman in a traditional wedding in Shillai village, Sirmaur. This follows an old custom called polyandry, which is still practised in some areas of the Trans-Giri region.

The two brothers, Pradeep and Kapil Negi, married Sunita Chauhan in a joint wedding ceremony that lasted three days, beginning on July 12. Hundreds of villagers attended the celebration, which featured local music and dance. Videos from the ceremony quickly spread across social media.

A Mutual Choice, Not Forced

The brothers said they both agreed to the marriage on their own, without any pressure from their family or community. Pradeep stated, "We followed our tradition openly because we are proud of it." Kapil, who works overseas, added, "We want to give Sunita a stable and supportive life as a united family. Honesty and openness are important to us."

Sunita, who comes from Kunhat village, said she fully accepted the tradition and agreed to the marriage by choice. She expressed respect for the relationship they all share.

Legal and Cultural Recognition in the Region

In Himachal Pradesh, polyandrous marriages like this are recognised under the local term “Jodidara” in state revenue records. In nearby Badhana village, at least five such marriages have happened in recent years. The Hatti tribe, which was given Scheduled Tribe status in 2022, mostly lives near the Himachal–Uttarakhand border.

While this practice is less common today due to changes in education and lifestyle, some communities still quietly follow it, supported by local customs.

Tradition with Practical Roots

Kundan Singh Shastri from the Kendriya Hatti Samiti explained that polyandry helped large joint families stay united, especially in remote hilly areas. It also made it easier to manage farmland spread across the region. “More men in one household meant more security and better survival in tribal settings,” he said.