Two Grooms, A Bride And A Hattee Wedding In Himachal
A unique wedding in Himachal Pradesh’s Trans-Giri region recently brought an ancient practice into the public spotlight. Two brothers from the Hattee community, Pradeep Negi and Kapil Negi, married the same woman, Sunita Chauhan, in an openly celebrated polyandrous wedding – a rare, public embrace of a custom quietly followed for generations in the hills of Sirmaur district.
Held in Shillai village over three days, the wedding drew hundreds of guests, who witnessed what locals called a bold but dignified celebration of “Jodidaran” or “Draupadi Pratha,” a centuries-old form of polyandry wherein a woman marries two or more brothers. The bride, from Kunhat village, entered into matrimony with full consent from all involved, including her family and that of the grooms.
The elder brother, Pradeep, is employed with the Jal Shakti Department of the Himachal Pradesh government, while Kapil works in the hospitality industry abroad. Despite the distance in their daily lives, both brothers actively participated in every ritual, standing side by side during sacred rites and making equal vows of care and companionship. “This was our joint decision,” Pradeep told a media house. “We followed our tradition openly because we’re proud of our roots.” Kapil echoed this sentiment, adding, “This marriage ensures that Sunita will always have the support of a united family, no matter where we are.”
Sunita, for her part, stated clearly, “This was my choice. I know this tradition, and I willingly chose it. We’ve made this commitment together.”
This union is not the first of its kind in the region, but its public celebration has stirred wider discussion, especially on social media. “In our village alone, there are over three dozen families living in such arrangements,” said Bishan Tomar, a local resident. “But most keep it private. This one was different – it was honest, joyful, and conducted with full community support.”
The Hattee community, who inhabit the Trans-Giri belt in south-eastern Himachal Pradesh, have long practised polyandry. This tradition emerged historically as a practical response to life in the rugged Himalayan terrain – where division of ancestral land among brothers would mean unsustainable parcels for farming. Sharing a wife kept property undivided, ensured family cohesion, and offered economic stability in a land where terrain and climate often made life unpredictable. It also reduced the possibility of widows and helped distribute household responsibilities evenly among men in a single family.
While polyandry is not recognised under modern Indian marital law, it is protected under customary tribal practice. In fact, legal experts have pointed out that the Himachal Pradesh High Court, in earlier rulings, acknowledged traditional arrangements like these in the Trans-Giri region. “Hundreds of such marriages have happened over the decades,” said Ransingh Chauhan, a legal advisor to the Central Hatti Committee. “People shouldn’t be shocked. This is our way of ensuring unity and safeguarding land and family.”
The recent Scheduled Tribe (ST) status granted to the Hattee community has further reinvigorated interest in preserving their distinct identity – of which traditions like polyandry are an integral part. The Trans-Giri region, spread across 1,300 square kilometres and home to 154 panchayats, sees a Hattee presence in 147 of them. Their customs, distinct from the mainstream Hindu marriage framework, include several age-old practices passed down through oral history and social norms.
The wedding, marked by vibrant Pahari folk music, traditional dances, and feasts showcasing regional delicacies, was not just a marriage – it was a celebration of heritage. Guests danced, sang, and offered blessings, treating the event as both sacred and symbolic.
However, voices within the community acknowledge that such practices may slowly fade. As education spreads and more youth migrate to cities for work, customs like Jodidaran are increasingly viewed as out of step with modern aspirations. “Polyandry may die a slow death,” said Kundan Singh Shastri of the Hatti Central Committee. “But for now, it remains a pillar of our identity.”
What made this marriage in Shillai truly remarkable was the transparency and mutual respect it demonstrated.
