HATTI TRIBE AND POLYANDRY IN HIMACHAL PRADESH

CURRENT CONTEXT: A traditional polyandrous marriage (‘Jajda’) was recently observed among the Hatti tribe in Himachal Pradesh.

 ABOUT HATTI TRIBE:

• Location: Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand (near Giri and Tons rivers).
• Name Origin: From traditional occupation—selling produce at local markets (‘Haat’).
• Status: Recognized Scheduled Tribe (ST).

 PRACTICE OF POLYANDRY:

• Type: A woman marries more than one man simultaneously.
• Local Recognition: Known as ‘Jodidara’ in revenue records.
• Purpose:
• Prevent division of ancestral land
• Preserve joint family unity and promote brotherhood
• Address demographic and resource constraints