POLYANDRY

                                        POLYANDRY

From very ancient times, polyandry is followed in Lahoul. It is a system in which a lady is the wife of all the brothers of a family. She is ceremoniously married with elder brother only but it was understood that she was common wife. The younger brother hold a subordinate position and the eldest brother is the most responsible in polyandrous family. The common wife does not allow any of her husbands to marry any other woman. She controls all the household affairs and holds very respectable position. The wife tactfully regulates the affairs of sex. In polyandrous family, all the husbands are recognised as the father of each child. The eldest among the brother is considered as the father of all the children born to polyandrous wife. It is most repulsive to an outsider. Britishers have criticised it but they were misunderstood. Polyandry was followed in Lahoul to save land holdings and other properties from division. But now the time has changed. The institute of polyandry is on its way out. People prefer to have monogamous relation.