Munish Sood
Sirmaur :
In a striking example of social change from the hills of Himachal Pradesh, two brothers from Kalog village in Nainidhar panchayat of Shillai constituency have solemnized their marriages in an entirely unconventional way — without a priest, without rituals, and without the traditional seven rounds around the sacred fire.
Instead, Sunil Kumar Bauddh and Vinod Kumar Azad took the Indian Constitution as their sole witness, pledging to live together with their partners in equality, dignity, and mutual respect. The brothers said they were deeply inspired by the ideas of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, choosing what they described as a “constitutional marriage” to promote liberty, equality, and fraternity over age-old religious practices.
A Wedding Without Priests, Only Promises
The two-day ceremony began on October 25 with the traditional Mama Swagat (welcome ritual). On October 26, their separate wedding processions were held — Sunil married Ritu from Katari village, while Vinod tied the knot with Reena Verma from Naya village.
The event included joyful barats and varmala ceremonies but completely excluded priestly rituals. Instead, both couples took an oath on the Constitution, promising to live by principles of equality and mutual respect throughout their lives.
Even their wedding invitations carried a message of reform — featuring portraits of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Mahatma Buddha, and Saint Kabir, and bearing the words:
“We are beginning a new chapter of life with the values of equality, liberty, and fraternity.”
Local residents attended the ceremony in large numbers and lauded the brothers for setting a new example. “It’s a powerful message against unnecessary rituals and lavish wedding culture,” said one attendee.
The brothers, both government employees, said their intent was to show that marriage should be rooted in personal choice and constitutional values rather than rigid customs.
When Two Brothers Married the Same Woman
Interestingly, just a few months ago, another pair of brothers from Shillai area in Sirmaur — Pradeep Negi and Kapil Negi — had made national headlines by marrying the same woman, Sunita Chauhan, under the ancient Hatti tribal custom of polyandry.
That wedding was celebrated publicly as a revival of a centuries-old practice once common in the Trans-Giri belt of Sirmaur. The brothers described it as part of their community’s heritage — a tradition believed to preserve family unity and land inheritance in the region’s tough mountain terrain.
Tradition and Transformation Walk Together
Within just a few months, Sirmaur district has seen two marriages that stand at opposite ends of the social spectrum — one reaffirming tradition, and the other redefining it.
While one set of brothers upheld an ancient tribal practice, another pair chose to make the Constitution their guiding light.
Together, these two stories show how Himachal’s hill communities are not just preserving their roots but also engaging in thoughtful change — balancing the weight of tradition with the promise of equality and modern values.
