‘Got Consent from Our Families’: Two Brothers Marry Same Woman Under ‘Draupadi Pratha’ in Himachal Pradesh
Himachal's Rare Jodidara Wedding: One Bride, Two Brothers Marry in Traditional Polyandry Ceremony
Sirmaur (Himachal Pradesh): In a rare traditional wedding, two brothers from Himachal Pradesh’s Hatti tribe married the same woman in a polyandrous ceremony, known locally as Jodidara. The event took place in Shillai village of the Sirmaur district and attracted hundreds of villagers during the three-day celebration, which began on July 12.
The bride, Sunita Chauhan, tied the knot with brothers Pradeep and Kapil Negi, following an age-old practice where a woman marries multiple brothers to maintain family unity and protect ancestral land from division.
“We followed the tradition publicly as we are proud of it, and it was a joint decision,” said Pradeep, who works in a government department. His brother Kapil, currently working abroad, added, “We’re ensuring support, stability, and love for our wife as a united family.”
Sunita, originally from Kunhat village, confirmed that she was aware of the tradition and made the decision without any pressure.
An Age-Old Tradition
Jodidara is a traditional polyandrous marriage system among the Hatti community, where a woman marries two or more brothers. The tradition, though now rare, is still recognized under Himachal Pradesh’s revenue laws.
According to Kundan Singh Shastri, general secretary of the Kendriya Hatti Samiti, this system helped families in the past to avoid splitting up land among multiple heirs and to manage agriculture in hilly regions more effectively. “The tradition was created thousands of years ago to save land and maintain unity among brothers,” he explained.
Over the last six years, five such weddings have been reported in Badhana village alone, reflecting the tradition’s continued, though limited, presence.
The Ceremony – Jajda
The polyandrous wedding, called Jajda, begins with the bride’s procession to the groom’s home. There, a priest performs a Seenj ritual—chanting mantras and sprinkling holy water. The ceremony ends with the bride and grooms being offered jaggery, seeking blessings from the Kul Devta (family deity) for a harmonious married life.
Viral on Social Media
Videos of the unique wedding quickly went viral online, sparking widespread interest and curiosity about this historic tribal custom. Despite changes in modern society, the Hatti tribe continues to honour this tradition with pride and mutual consent.
