In Himachal’s remote hills, two brothers marry the same woman in ancient polyandry tradition

A rare and centuries-old tradition has once again come into public view from Himachal Pradesh, where two brothers from the Hatti tribal community have married the same woman, reviving memories of the Mahabharata-era tale of Draupadi and the Pandavas.

Also Read:Karnataka rolls out groundwater pricing policy to combat over-extraction

The marriage, held in Shillai village of Sirmaur district, involved Pradeep Negi and Kapil Negi marrying Sunita Chauhan of Kunhat village as per the customs of the Hatti community. The ritual was carried out with mutual consent among all three individuals and active participation from the local community, reflecting a long-standing tradition of polyandry, where one woman has multiple husbands.

Pradeep works with the Jal Shakti department, while his younger brother Kapil is employed abroad. Despite their different lifestyles, both have chosen to share marital life with Sunita, following a deeply rooted cultural practice that has persisted in some parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

Known as the Draupadi tradition or "jodidaran", this practice is believed to preserve family unity, prevent ancestral land division, and ensure that no woman is left widowed or unsupported. While polyandry is considered illegal under modern Hindu law and rarely practiced today, the Hatti community has retained the tradition in some remote regions.

Sunita and both grooms expressed happiness about their union, saying they were proud to be part of their cultural heritage and made the decision together with full understanding.

Though modern influences have caused this practice to decline, such instances continue to draw attention for their rarity and strong ties to local identity and belief systems.