In a remarkable revival of a centuries-old tradition, two brothers from the Hatti tribe—Pradeep and Kapil Negi—married Sunita Chauhan in a three-day ceremony held from July 12 to 14 in Shillai village, Sirmaur district. The practice, known locally as “Jodidara” or “Jajda”, involves a woman marrying two (or more) brothers and remains legally recognised under Himachal Pradesh’s tribal revenue laws .

Sunita confirmed that the union was voluntary: “I was aware of the tradition and made my decision without any pressure,” while the brothers emphasised their pride in preserving their cultural heritage together .

Anthropologists and community leaders explain that Jodidara historically aimed to prevent subdivision of scarce ancestral land and strengthen family unity in the challenging terrain of the Trans-Giri region. Kundan Singh Shastri of the Kendriya Hatti Samiti noted that the tradition was “invented thousands of years ago to save a family’s agricultural land from further division” . By maintaining joint households, the practice also enhances collective security and agricultural efficiency .

Despite its deep roots, polyandry among the Hatti is declining due to modern influences like education, urban migration, and shifting gender roles. The recent ceremony, drawing hundreds of attendees, has ignited national interest.