Two brothers from a rural tribe in India have married the same woman, following an ancient custom that allows one wife to have multiple husbands.
The wedding of Pradeep and Kapil Negi to Sunita Chauhan took place on July 12 in the Himachal Pradesh state, in front of hundreds of family members and villagers. The three belong to the Hatti tribe, which practices polyandry—a tradition where one woman marries more than one man, often brothers.
During the three-day ceremony, the bride and both grooms walked around a sacred fire as villagers sang traditional songs.
“We followed the tradition publicly as we are proud of it, and it was a joint decision,” said Pradeep.
Kapil added, “We’re ensuring support, stability, and love for our wife as a united family.”
One of the brothers works for the government, while the other lives and works overseas. According to the tribe’s tradition, the wife spends time with each husband on a set schedule, and all children are raised together. The oldest brother is listed as the legal father of any children.
Though polyandry is banned in most parts of India, it is still allowed in some tribal areas, like those in the Himalayan region, to preserve traditional customs.
The wedding drew attention after photos went viral online, sparking both interest and criticism.
Also Read:
- Muhammed Babangida Accepts Appointment as BOA Chairman
- Over 1.3M Students Sit for NECO Exam as CBT Begins
The All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) condemned the marriage, calling it unfair to women.
“Such acts of women’s exploitation… go against the fundamental rights of a woman,” said Mariam Dhawale, AIDWA’s general secretary.
However, local lawmaker Harshwardhan Singh Chauhan defended the practice.
“We have a customary law to protect polyandry,” he told reporters.
Kundal Lal Shashtri, a Hatti tribal leader, pointed to the ancient Hindu epic Mahabharata, where Draupadi married five brothers, as an example of the custom’s deep roots.
The Hatti tribe, with about 300,000 members, mostly live in the Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh and have practiced polyandry for generations.