In News:

Recently, two brothers from the Hatti tribe in the Trans-Giri region of Sirmaur district, Himachal Pradesh, married the same woman under the traditional custom of polyandry. The wedding, held in Shillai village, was conducted openly and witnessed by hundreds, reviving attention to this rare tribal practice.

About the Hatti Tribe

• The Hatti community derives its name from the traditional occupation of selling agricultural produce, meat, and wool in local markets called haats.
• They reside primarily in the Himachal–Uttarakhand border region, especially in the basins of the Giri and Tons rivers, both tributaries of the Yamuna.
• The Hattis are divided into two major groups:
  • One in Trans-Giri, Sirmaur district (Himachal Pradesh)
  • Another in Jaunsar-Bawar (Uttarakhand)

• They maintain similar cultural practices, and intermarriage between these clans is common.
• The community follows a traditional council system called ‘Khumbli’ for resolving social issues.
• As of 2023, the Hatti tribe in Himachal Pradesh was granted Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, while Jaunsar-Bawar in Uttarakhand received tribal status in 1967.
• Their economy is largely agrarian, with a focus on cash crops due to favorable climatic conditions.

The Tradition of Polyandry ("Jajda")

• Polyandry in the Hatti community is locally called “Jajda” and was historically practiced to prevent division of ancestral land.
• The ritual includes a marriage procession of the bride to the groom’s village and a ceremony called “Seenj”.
• Local priests chant mantras in the native language and conclude the ceremony with blessings and offerings like jaggery.
• This practice has declined in recent decades due to increasing literacy among women, social modernization, and economic shifts.

Legal and Social Acceptance

• Polyandrous marriages are informally recognized under Himachal Pradesh revenue laws, where the practice is referred to as “Jodidara”.
• Though rare, such marriages continue to be socially accepted in some remote villages of Trans-Giri, Kinnaur, and Jaunsar-Bawar.

Demographics

• As per the 2011 Census, the Hatti population was around 2.5 lakh, and estimates now suggest about 3 lakh people across 450 villages in the Trans-Giri region alone.

Cultural and Practical Rationale

According to Hatti elders and community leaders:

• Land Preservation: Prevents fragmentation of ancestral property.
• Joint Family Bonding: Promotes unity and mutual understanding among brothers.
• Labor Sharing: Ensures adequate manpower to manage scattered agricultural lands in hilly terrain.
• Security: A larger family offers greater social and economic protection in tribal settings.