Long before it made headlines, the Hattee community of Himachal Pradesh quietly observed a marital tradition that defied modern conventions. Now, in the remote hill village of Shillai in Sirmaur district, two brothers have boldly reignited this custom, not with secrecy, but celebration.
Pradeep and Kapil Negi, brothers from the Hattee tribe, married the same woman, Sunita Chauhan, in a public ceremony attended by relatives, neighbours and well-wishers. Their three-day wedding included traditional songs, blessings from elders, and a display of cultural pride that stood in sharp contrast to decades of silence around polyandry.
“This was our joint decision,” said Pradeep, who works with the Jal Shakti Department. “It’s a matter of trust, care and shared responsibility. We followed our tradition openly because we’re proud of our roots.”
Kapil, the younger brother who returned from abroad to marry, added, “We’ve always believed in transparency… ensuring support, stability and love for our wife as a united family.” Their wife, Sunita Chauhan, affirmed, “This was my choice. I was never pressured… we’ve made this commitment together.”
Such declarations of mutual consent and pride have long been absent from polyandrous unions, most of which take place discreetly. Yet, according to Shillai resident Bishan Tomar, the practice remains far from rare.
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“There are around over three dozen families in our village alone where two or three brothers have one wife… But those marriages happen quietly. This one stood out for its honesty and the dignity with which it was celebrated,” he told The Tribune.
Known locally as ‘Jodidaran’ or ‘Draupadi Pratha’, this form of fraternal polyandry has been integral to communities in the Trans-Giri areas of Sirmaur. The tradition, rooted in economic pragmatism and family unity, prevents the fragmentation of land and keeps the family intact across generations, a crucial consideration in hilly terrain with limited arable land.
Other regions in Himachal, including Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti, continue to practise polyandry within tribal groups. The Jaunsar-Bawar belt in Uttarakhand also sustains similar customs. The Toda tribe of Tamil Nadu once permitted sequential and fraternal polyandry to avoid disputes over inheritance.
Outside India, historical evidence of polyandry exists in Tibet, Nepal, parts of Africa, and Polynesia. In Tibet, it was outlawed in 1981, but continues in practice in some rural communities.
The Hattee community, recently granted Scheduled Tribe status, views such customs as vital markers of cultural identity. However, generational shifts are evident. While older members preserve these customs, younger voices often seek individualised marital paths, especially as exposure to urban and digital life expands.
Yet this wedding has turned eyes back toward the hills, not with ridicule or shame, but with curiosity, admiration, and a deep sense of rootedness.
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