Polyandry in Nepal: Unraveling cultural, ecological, and societal dimensions in the Limi Valley of Humla

Abstract

Polyandry, the marital system permitting a woman to concurrently have multiple husbands, is a distinctive practice embedded in mountainous regions of Nepal, especially in the northwestern districts of Humla, Dolpa, Manang, and Mustang. This research delves into the complex nature of polyandry in Nepal, elucidating its historical, socio-cultural, economic, and environmental underpinnings. The research offers a thorough exploration of polyandry within the Nepalese milieu, scrutinizing the determinants that perpetuate and mold this practice in the modern era. Fieldwork was conducted in the Limi Valley of Humla District, a locale adjacent to China where polyandry is notably prevalent. Out of 36 households surveyed, 47% practiced polyandry, with up to five brothers sharing a single wife. The primary drivers of this custom are the scarcity of cultivable land and the imperative to preserve familial unity and safeguard property. This cultural tradition is deeply ingrained among the inhabitants, bolstering their commitment to it. The principal sources of livelihood in the region include border trade, herb businesses, and limited agricultural land. Data were gathered through household surveys and a two-day anthropological and ethnographic study. One significant demographic factor influencing polyandry is the higher male-to-female ratio, as revealed by the 2021 census data for Humla District. If each brother were to marry separately, it would precipitate family fragmentation and land division, diminishing food production. Outside this region, polyandry is largely obsolete and often stigmatized by neighboring communities. In polyandrous households, the wife's sexual rights are typically age-determined, with younger brothers gaining access only in the older siblings' absence. Due to the brothers' varied occupations such as herding, trading, and farming, they seldom converge at home simultaneously. This dynamic necessitates that younger brothers discreetly seek intimacy in the absence of older ones, underscoring the wife's critical role in sustaining harmony and tranquility within polyandrous marriages.