Two Brothers Marry One Woman in Himachal Pradesh. Know How Hatti Tribe's Jodidara Ceremony Keeping the Polyandry Alive in India

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A woman from Himachal Pradesh's Kunhat village married two brothers in accordance with the traditional polyandrous practice also known as Jodidara, which is unique to the indigenous Hatti tribe. The wedding took place on July 12 in Shillai village, located in Himachal Pradesh quickly went viral for its unconventional nature. The Hatti tribe in the Trans Giri area, has a population of almost three lakh and the tribe is spread across nearly 450 villages.

The bride, Sunita Chauhan, tied the knot with brothers Pradeep and Kapil Negi in a ceremony celebrated by folk songs, dance and other customs. Pradeep Negi shared that the reason behind them getting married in a public ceremony is because they are proud of their traditions. “We are proud of it and it was a joint decision,” said Pradeep Negi, one of the grooms.

His brother, Kapil Negi, who works abroad, added, “We’re ensuring support, stability, and love for our wife as a united family. We’ve always believed in transparency.” The bride, Sunita, confirmed that she was aware of the tradition and made her decision without any pressure. 

Polyandry, locally known as Jodidara among the Hatti, is a centuries-old practice where one woman marries two or more men, usually brothers. The tradition aims to prevent the division of ancestral land among heirs and maintain unity in joint families.

While polyandry is not legal in India, some exceptions exist in tribal regions. Ransingh Chauhan, a local lawyer, noted that the Himachal Pradesh High Court had previously granted limited recognition under the Jodidar Law. “This has been a prevalent practice in the area for decades,” he said.

Kundan Singh Shastri, General Secretary of the Kendriya Hatti Samiti, explained the tradition’s historical roots, stating, “This tradition was invented thousands of years ago to save a family’s agricultural land from further division.”

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Though polyandry is not common in most of India, it is still continued in a few tribal communities, including Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh and Jaunsar Babar in Uttarakhand.

The custom of Jodidara is widely accepted and practised in few tribal communities because of its cultural significance and its ability to unite families. [Rh/Eth/VS]