While the society is breaking all the ancient shackles of traditions that look objectionable or worth putting a question mark towards the old traditions , in Sirmaur , Himachal Pradesh despite the bridegrooms having been educated and well versed with latest societal norms, two brothers are marrying a single bride with fanfare and a sense of responsibility not at all worried about the prevailing marriage laws and societal norms. In Uttarakhand’s few areas this was the tradition several decades ago but has now been given up completely , however, in Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh this old tradition still persists in some families, though it looks too weird for the people of other communities living in other states. According to the latest news at Silai , in Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh two brothers of a family as bridegrooms have married to a beautiful Girl and the celebrations with folk songs and spiritual obligations went in for three days consecutively. According to the prevailing old tradition in Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh a bridegroom Sunita has been tied up in a nuptial wedlock with two bridegrooms in a marriage celebration with fanfare and spiritual obligations. The names of her two husbands are Pradeep and Kapil. Such multiple husband marriages are happening in the Himalayan states from ancient time and therefore this community has been given the status of backwards scheduled tribe by the government according to them several facilities and concessions in jobs etc. One husband of Sunita is in government service and another tuning a business and Sunita too is qualified. Though due to advancement and education the old traditions are being broken but Sunita despite being qualified has continued with the old tradition and is married to duo husbands Kapil Negi and Pradeep Negi. In Uttarakhand NEGI’s hail from Thakur, Rajput community but in Sirmaur Himachal Pradesh they are rated as Backwards coming under Scheduled tribes, the status given by the government. While Kapil Negi is living abroad in business , Pradeep Negi is serving in the Himachal government. The Revenue and Horticulture minister of Himachal Pradesh hailing from Kinnaur Jagat Singh Negi is the lawmaker from here and industry minister respects this ancient tradition with pride. The MLA from Silai, Himachal Pradesh and Industry minister Harshwardhan says that this type of marriage had been solemnised in almost every house of this area. The former and first chief minister of Himachal Pradesh Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar had done research on this multi husband tradition in Sirmaur called Polyandry. This tradition of polyandry was commenced in view of spreading mutual Amity and to ensure that the family wealth and land etc remains intact. This tradition is though not frequently but still seen in the districts of Sirmaur, Kinnaur and some parts of Uttarakhand reveal sources.
Leave a Reply