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| Hatti wedding sees two brothers share bride |
In a Himalayan village, two brothers joined their lives with one woman under a custom older than many nations. Pradeep and Kapil Negi from the Hatti tribe of Himachal Pradesh married Sunita Chauhan of Kunhat village in a three-day ritual beginning July 12. The ceremony unfolded under the local name Jodidara, a form of fraternal polyandry meant to keep land and bonds intact .
Crowds of men and women gathered around a sacred fire as Sunita, dressed in bright reds and golds, shared vows with both brothers. She smiled as Kapil extended his hand to welcome her on the stage, while Pradeep offered rice and petals. Folk singers and dancers from nearby hamlets added song and movement to every ritual circle .
The three stated the choice was free of any pressure. Pradeep said they publicized the union to honor their roots and unity. Kapil, who works abroad, said this step would ensure stability, support and love for their wife . Sunita confirmed she knew the tradition well and agreed willingly.
This practice traces back centuries through the high passes and terraced slopes of Himachal’s Sirmaur district. In rugged terrain, dividing small plots among multiple heirs could leave none with enough land to survive. Jodidara let brothers share one wife. Their children inherited land as a single unit and family ties grew stronger .
Hatti elders say polyandry also kept migration low. With more men sharing a home, farms stayed busy even when one brother traveled for work. Women gained a wider support circle and needed fewer household tasks, while the tribe preserved its soil and sheep .
Legally, India’s main marriage laws demand monogamy. But special revenue rules in Himachal allow ancient customs among tribal groups if they meet tests of reasonableness and age. Local authorities recorded the Negi-Chauhan union under these rules. No court challenge has yet surfaced .
Voices in nearby towns greeted the wedding with curiosity and pride. Schoolteacher Meera Devi said she saw the ceremony’s joy and discipline. “They kept every ritual in public. They showed respect to our history,” she noted. Farmer Ramesh Thakur said he hoped the event would let more Indians learn about lesser-known customs.
Not all reactions were warm. Some women’s rights activists argued polyandry is a symptom of gender imbalance. They said it treats a woman as communal property. Others countered that Sunita’s consent changed the discussion. She spoke of equal standing with both husbands, sharing chores and decisions .
Experts see this episode as more than a cultural oddity. Anthropologist Dr. Arjun Malhotra said fraternal polyandry once existed in Tibet, Nepal and parts of Uttarakhand too. He added that modern education and shifting social norms have all but ended it. This public ceremony may mark a last bloom of the custom before it fades entirely .
Sunita says she spends days among her two husbands with full freedom. She decides which brother’s home to live in on a given week. Both men respect her choice, she says. They share income from a small textile stall she runs. She calls the arrangement fair and stable .
The marriage highlights India’s legal grey zones. Under the Hindu Marriage Act, having more than one spouse is void. Yet tribal customs get space in the law when they serve a genuine community need. Lawyers note that any challenge would require showing that Jodidara harms public policy or the individuals involved .
Local panchayat head Vinod Singh said the Hatti tradition predates British revenue records. He notes that written documents from the 19th century detail joint inheritance practices. Today’s ceremony used those old texts as a guide. That proves to many villagers that this union is no novelty, but a revival of their true heritage.
On the final day, the trio walked through mustard fields and pine groves. Villagers showered petals as they passed. A wandering minstrel sang of epic heroes who shared wives and wealth to keep kingdoms strong. The wedding feasts included lentils, barley bread, meat and milk tea — all staples of Hatti hospitality.
As social media videos of the event spread, views soared into the millions. Many international viewers reacted with disbelief. But some wrote from Nepal and Tibet to say they too recalled similar community ties and ancient laws. The story opened doors to discussions on cultural diversity, legal pluralism and women’s autonomy.
The Negi-Chauhan marriage leaves unanswered questions about polyandry’s future. Will more Hatti families revive the union to save land? Or will changing job markets and schooling steer youths toward monogamous norms? Only time will tell if this wedding remains a rare spectacle or sparks a quiet revival.
For now, Pradeep, Kapil and Sunita plan to build a home on family land. They aim to grow apples and raise sheep together. They say they want their children to feel loved by all three parents equally. And they hope that sharing one bride under an ancient custom may teach the wider world something about unity, choice and respect .