She Became the Wife of Two Men: And Their Wedding Lasted 3 Days
Nidhi | Jul 20, 2025, 14:24 IST
( Image credit : Timeslife )
Highlight of the story: In Himachal Pradesh’s Sirmaur district, a woman married two brothers from the Hatti tribe in a rare polyandrous wedding ceremony that lasted three days and drew hundreds of attendees. Though polyandry is not legally recognized in India, the tradition continues to survive in remote Himalayan communities where culture and custom often outweigh law. Rooted in practical concerns like land preservation and family unity, this ancient practice is now a symbol of identity and resistance in regions where modernity and tradition quietly coexist.
In a remote Himalayan village tucked away in the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh, an unusual wedding ceremony has once again drawn attention to an ancient, vanishing tradition — polyandry, the practice of a woman marrying more than one man. From July 12 to 14, Sunita Chauhan, a woman from Kunhat village, was married to two brothers — Pradeep Negi and Kapil Negi - from the Hatti tribe in the Trans-Giri region.
Though the Indian legal system does not recognize polyandrous unions, the ceremony was attended by hundreds of locals and celebrated in the full spirit of tradition. The event has sparked conversations not only about cultural identity but also about how tradition and law can live in quiet tension. Polyandry is one of the rarest forms of marital structure globally, but it is not unknown. The word comes from the Greek poly (many) and aner (man), and the practice has been documented across several regions, including ancient Tibet, parts of Nepal, Bhutan, and some tribal societies in Africa and South America.
In India, polyandry was historically practiced in certain pockets of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand (notably Jaunsar-Bawar), and among Toda tribes in Tamil Nadu. The most well-known example from Indian mythology is Draupadi’s marriage to the five Pandava brothers in the Mahabharata, often cited in these communities as a cultural archetype for the practice.
Anthropologists have observed that polyandry often emerges in societies where resources are limited, land is difficult to divide, and family unity is vital for economic survival.
By keeping the property undivided among siblings and reducing the number of heirs, families could preserve landholdings, consolidate labor, and ensure household stability.
In many cases, the elder brother would lead the household while the younger brothers shared responsibilities and status equally. Polyandry thus evolved not out of moral ideals, but out of ecological and economic necessity.
Polyandry is no longer widespread among Hattis, but its presence in rare events like this marriage reflects a deep connection to ancestral customs, even as society changes. The Trans-Giri area has long functioned semi-autonomously in terms of social organization, and local customs often carry more weight than distant legal codes.
Under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, a man or woman can legally have only one spouse at a time.
Bigamy or polygamy is a criminal offense under Section 494 of the Indian Penal Code if performed with legal solemnization.
However, customary marriages that are not registered or contested rarely reach the courtroom unless property disputes arise.
This creates a gray area: while such unions are socially accepted in certain regions, they remain invisible to the state. There is no provision for legal recourse in cases of inheritance, divorce, or domestic conflict in polyandrous marriages.
Yet in places like Shillai, custom often governs life more than law, and the community’s blessing can sometimes matter more than official documentation.
Urbanization, modern education, changing gender roles, and media exposure have led to a shift in societal norms.
Moreover, migration of youth to cities, increased individual choice in marriage, and legal awareness have all contributed to its decline.
Still, for communities like the Hattis, this tradition carries symbolic power. It is less about romantic relationships and more about retaining cultural identity and defying homogenization.
This wedding, in that sense, becomes more than a marital choice — it is a quiet form of resistance, a way of saying that ancient practices need not vanish silently in the face of legal modernity. Sunita Chauhan’s marriage to two brothers is not simply a curiosity. It is a reflection of how culture, geography, and necessity shape social institutions — and how these institutions sometimes endure quietly, outside the spotlight of legality or modern morality.
While the world moves toward uniformity in law and life, villages like Shillai remind us that not all traditions conform to legislation, and not every marriage is defined by paper. Some are defined by the land, the family, and the will of a community to keep its memory alive.
In the end, polyandry in modern Himachal is not just about who marries whom. It is about what survives — and why.
Though the Indian legal system does not recognize polyandrous unions, the ceremony was attended by hundreds of locals and celebrated in the full spirit of tradition. The event has sparked conversations not only about cultural identity but also about how tradition and law can live in quiet tension.
Understanding Polyandry: A Global and Historical Perspective
In India, polyandry was historically practiced in certain pockets of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand (notably Jaunsar-Bawar), and among Toda tribes in Tamil Nadu. The most well-known example from Indian mythology is Draupadi’s marriage to the five Pandava brothers in the Mahabharata, often cited in these communities as a cultural archetype for the practice.
Anthropologists have observed that polyandry often emerges in societies where resources are limited, land is difficult to divide, and family unity is vital for economic survival.
Why Polyandry Took Root in the Himalayas
Polyandry Ritual in Ancie
( Image credit : Times Life Bureau )
By keeping the property undivided among siblings and reducing the number of heirs, families could preserve landholdings, consolidate labor, and ensure household stability.
In many cases, the elder brother would lead the household while the younger brothers shared responsibilities and status equally. Polyandry thus evolved not out of moral ideals, but out of ecological and economic necessity.
The Hatti Tribe and Social Endurance
Marriage Rituals
( Image credit : Freepik )
Polyandry is no longer widespread among Hattis, but its presence in rare events like this marriage reflects a deep connection to ancestral customs, even as society changes. The Trans-Giri area has long functioned semi-autonomously in terms of social organization, and local customs often carry more weight than distant legal codes.
Legal Ambiguity: Where Custom Meets Law
Marriage Laws
( Image credit : Freepik )
Under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, a man or woman can legally have only one spouse at a time.
Bigamy or polygamy is a criminal offense under Section 494 of the Indian Penal Code if performed with legal solemnization.
However, customary marriages that are not registered or contested rarely reach the courtroom unless property disputes arise.
This creates a gray area: while such unions are socially accepted in certain regions, they remain invisible to the state. There is no provision for legal recourse in cases of inheritance, divorce, or domestic conflict in polyandrous marriages.
Yet in places like Shillai, custom often governs life more than law, and the community’s blessing can sometimes matter more than official documentation.
A Culture in Decline: or an Assertion of Identity?
Traditions in Indian Marr
( Image credit : Freepik )
Urbanization, modern education, changing gender roles, and media exposure have led to a shift in societal norms.
Moreover, migration of youth to cities, increased individual choice in marriage, and legal awareness have all contributed to its decline.
Still, for communities like the Hattis, this tradition carries symbolic power. It is less about romantic relationships and more about retaining cultural identity and defying homogenization.
This wedding, in that sense, becomes more than a marital choice — it is a quiet form of resistance, a way of saying that ancient practices need not vanish silently in the face of legal modernity.
Between Law, Land, and Legacy
While the world moves toward uniformity in law and life, villages like Shillai remind us that not all traditions conform to legislation, and not every marriage is defined by paper. Some are defined by the land, the family, and the will of a community to keep its memory alive.
In the end, polyandry in modern Himachal is not just about who marries whom. It is about what survives — and why.