In the land where stories of love and duty have echoed through epics like the Mahabharata, marriage has never been just a union of two souls&mdash;it has been a deeply cultural, emotional, and practical institution shaped by centuries of tradition. The image of Draupadi standing beside her five husbands is not merely a mythological symbol&mdash;it is a reality still mirrored in remote Himalayan villages and tribal settlements. These are not just practices; they are stories of survival, of land, of loyalty, and of deeply rooted customs that have weathered time. As India modernises rapidly, it carries with it the emotional weight of such unique matrimonial traditions&mdash;some still sacred, others controversial&mdash;but all undeniably part of its living legacy.
India&rsquo;s marital systems can be broadly categorised as:
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Monogamy: One man and one woman per marriage&mdash;widely accepted and legally enforced.
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Polygyny: One man married to multiple wives&mdash;legally allowed only for Muslims, but still observed in some tribal communities like the Nyishi of Arunachal Pradesh.
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Polyandry: One woman married to multiple men, typically brothers, found in isolated Himalayan communities.
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Polygamy: Umbrella term covering both polygyny and polyandry, though mostly outlawed under Hindu law. 
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</ul>
<h3 dir="ltr">Polyandry Across India</h3>
<h4 dir="ltr">Himachal Pradesh (Hatti Tribe, Sirmaur District)</h4>
A recent high-profile example: brothers Pradeep Negi and Kapil Negi married Sunita Chauhan in Shillai, reviving the Jodidara or Draupadi Pratha tradition. Lasting over three days, the event attracted widespread attention as a public assertion of ancient tribal identity and land-preservation customs.
Himachal&rsquo;s tribal polyandry, also practised in parts of Kinnaur, Lahaul&ndash;Spiti, and Jaunsar&ndash;Bawar, is driven by scarcity of tillable land and the need to prevent land fragmentation across generations. Under the unwritten &ldquo;Jodidar Law,&rdquo; brothers share a common wife and offspring, with inheritance rights preserved intact.
<h4 dir="ltr">Uttarakhand (Jaunsar&ndash;Bawar)</h4>
The Jaunsari tribe continues to practice fraternal polyandry in high-altitude villages. Brothers share one wife to maintain family unity, consolidate resources, and manage limited arable land efficiently.
<h4 dir="ltr">Tamil Nadu (Toda Tribe)</h4>
In the Nilgiri hills, the Toda community practised both fraternal and sequential polyandry. A woman married her husband and his brothers; symbolic rituals, like passing a bow and arrow, assigned paternity for each child. Children considered all brothers as fathers, ensuring collective responsibility.
<h4 dir="ltr">Kerala (Ezhava, Nair, Thiyya during colonial times)</h4>
Communities such as the Ezhavas practised Pandavavicharam, where one woman married multiple brothers, preserving property under patrilineal norms. This custom faded during Kerala&rsquo;s social reform movements in the early 20th century.
<h3 dir="ltr">Polygyny in Tribal and Regional India</h3>
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Arunachal Pradesh (Nyishi Tribe) The Nyishi people historically practised polygyny as a marker of status and practicality, helping manage labour during hunts or clan activities. Though declining due to modernisation and Christian influence, it remains reported in some areas.
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Scheduled Tribes Across India National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 2019-20 data shows that tribal communities have the highest rates of polygyny&mdash;ranging between 2&ndash;6% in states like Meghalaya, Tripura, Odisha, and Jharkhand&mdash;though the practice is gradually declining.
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Gujarat and Haryana Polygyny is uncommon but not unheard of. For example, former Gujarat Chief Minister Amarsinh Chaudhary publicly maintained two wives&mdash;Gajraben and Nishaben&mdash;reflecting tribal norms within political life. In rural Haryana, ties with multiple brothers and informal marital arrangements are reported to reduce dowry and land disputes. 
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<h3 dir="ltr">Eight Classical Hindu Marriage Types</h3>
As defined in Dharmashastra texts and summarised in modern sources:
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Brahma &ndash; Ideal marriage arranged on merit; no exchange of wealth.
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Daiva &ndash; Bride given to a priest in a ritual context.
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Arsha &ndash; Groom gives gifts (e.g. cattle) to the bride&rsquo;s father.
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Prajapatya &ndash; Marriage for mutual duty and offspring.
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Gandharva &ndash; Love marriage based on mutual consent.
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Asura &ndash; Groom purchases bride; feudal transaction.
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Rakshasa &ndash; Marriage by abduction or force.
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Paishacha &ndash; Non-consensual, while the woman was incapacitated.
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Svayamvara (occasionally counted) &ndash; Bride chooses husband herself.
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</ol>
The first four are considered socially and spiritually valid; the latter four are ethically denied and repudiated in modern ethos.
<h3 dir="ltr">How These Traditions Intersect</h3>
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<table><colgroup><col width="114"><col width="247"><col width="263"></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
Marriage Form
</td>
<td>
Regional Examples
</td>
<td>
Reasons &amp; Context
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Polyandry
</td>
<td>
Himachal (Hatti), Uttarakhand, Toda, Kerala
</td>
<td>
Preserve land, resources, and prevent fragmentation
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Polygyny
</td>
<td>
Nyishi, tribal belt, Gujarat political cases
</td>
<td>
Social status, labour pooling, and fertility concerns
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Monogamy
</td>
<td>
Urban &amp; legal norm
</td>
<td>
Legally enforced, social ideal
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
Gandharva etc.
</td>
<td>
Love marriages across communities
</td>
<td>
Personal choice over tradition
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
Despite these exceptions, the legal framework under the Hindu Marriage Act (1955) mandates monogamy for Hindus, with narrow customary exceptions for Scheduled Tribe practices. Most polyandrous or polygynous unions lack legal recognition, even where socially accepted.
Across India&mdash;from tribal polyandry in the Himalayas, to polygyny among scheduled tribes, to rare polygynous political figures in Gujarat&mdash;the country&rsquo;s marital landscape reveals deep-rooted pragmatism. These traditions are often adaptations to local geography, property norms, and socio-economic pressures.
The Gujarat Context: Love, Politics &amp; Polygyny
Even in Gujarat, where such customs are less visible in mainstream society, tribal communities preserve older conjugal norms. One of the most talked-about examples is former Chief Minister Amarsinh Chaudhary, who was married to two women &mdash; Gajraben and Nishaben &mdash; a fact well-known in the tribal circles of South Gujarat. His life reflects how traditional norms can coexist with high political stature.
Adding a contemporary dimension to this, Chaitar Vasava, the AAP MLA from Dediapada, offers a living example of polygyny that works on trust and teamwork. With two wives by his side, Vasava has become a symbol of unity in diversity &mdash; both women live together and actively support his political and social work. The entire household operates like a cohesive team, reflecting rare harmony in a polygynous setup. His victory in the tribal belt is not just political, but also personal &mdash; a testimony to how strength can come from unconventional yet united family models.
While most of these practices are dying out under legal reform, education, and urbanisation, they remain a fascinating testament to India&rsquo;s cultural resilience. They embody the complexities of marriage as more than personal choice, but as strategy, identity, and survival.
While most of these practices are dying out under legal reform, education, and urbanisation, they remain a fascinating testament to India&rsquo;s cultural resilience. They embody the complexities of marriage as more than personal choice, but as strategy, identity, and survival.

From polyandry in Himachal to polygyny in Gujarat, India’s age-old unions defy conventions

Modern-Day Panchalis: India’s Marital Traditions

From polyandry in Himachal to polygyny in Gujarat, India’s age-old unions defy conventions

July 20, 2025 | 17:08 IST