Shillai (Himachal Pradesh): Two brothers from Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur district married the same woman, claiming to have revived the centuries-old and rapidly-fading tradition of polyandry.
The public marriage took place last weekend in the remote village of Shillai, situated in the tribal belt of the newly notified Scheduled Tribe — Hatti community.
Pradeep Negi, an employee in the Jal Shakti Department, and Kapil Negi, who works in the hospitality sector abroad, tied the knot with Sunita Chauhan from nearby Kunhat village in a traditional ceremony that lasted three days, starting July 12.
Hundreds of villagers participated in the wedding, accompanied by traditional Pahari music, local cuisine, and folk dances.
The trio’s decision to solemnise their marriage openly has drawn widespread attention, particularly as polyandry — where one woman marries more than one man, usually brothers — has largely receded into secrecy due to legal ambiguities and changing social mores. The Hindu Marriage Act of 1955 does not recognise polyandrous unions, and in most parts of the country, such practices have either ceased or are carried out discreetly.
However, in the Hatti tribal community, which shares cultural similarities with Uttarakhand’s Jaunsari region, polyandry was historically practised as a pragmatic social arrangement. It allowed families to retain their agricultural land without division, ensured the security of women in joint households, and reinforced familial bonds. But with rising education, migration, and the influence of modern laws, the tradition has nearly vanished.
Speaking to media, both brothers emphasised that the marriage was a consensual decision among all three individuals, free from any coercion.
“We followed the tradition publicly as we are proud of it, and it was a joint decision,” Pradeep told PTI.
The community too extended its full support, turning the occasion into a celebration of cultural identity.
Some view the act as a bold reclamation of indigenous customs, while others have raised concerns regarding the legal rights of the individuals involved, particularly the woman, under current matrimonial laws.
