21st Century Mahabharata-Style Wedding: Two Brothers in Himachal Marry Same Woman

Shimla (The Uttam Hindu): Everyone has heard the story of Draupadi's marriage to the five Pandavas during the Mahabharata period, but if you come to know that this tradition is still alive in the 21st century, it might be difficult to believe. A similar case has come to light in Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh, where two real brothers have married the same girl, bringing this ancient tradition back into the limelight.

This unique marriage took place in Shillai area of Sirmaur district of Himachal Pradesh. This 'polyandry system' prevalent in the Hati community here is called 'Ujala Paksha'. In this recent marriage, two real brothers have made the same girl their wife. According to sources, one of the two brothers works abroad, while the other is a local government employee. People of the entire village also participated in this marriage.

It is believed that this practice started in ancient times to protect land and property from division. To ensure that the family's land remains at one place, all the brothers of the family used to marry the same woman. Often one brother would go out to earn money, while the other would look after the house and farming.

Apart from Sirmaur and Kinnaur of Himachal, this practice has been prevalent in Jaunsar-Bawar area of Uttarakhand. However, with the spread of modernity and education, this tradition is slowly ending and such marriages are now rarely seen. This latest marriage has once again sparked a discussion on this unique social system.