NEW DELHI, Dec 22: A man marrying two women at a time! Surprising but True. The arrangement may be legally untenable, but accepted under certain tribal tradition.
In a surprising turn of events, a 36-year-old man from Navsari district in South Gujarat married two women at once. The marriage ceremony of the man, who is from Khanpur village of Vansda taluka in tribal-dominated Dangs district, identified as Meghrajbhai Deshmukh, has not only gone viral on social media but also created curiosity about the tribal culture behind it.
The wedding of Deshmukh with Kajal Gavit and Rekhaben Gain, both of whom he has been in a long-term relationship with, and also have children with them. While it may seem like a modern-day love triangle, the arrangement is rooted in an age-old tribal tradition called Chandla Vidhi or Phulhar.
The wedding invitation first aroused the curiosity, when locals noticed a single groom listed alongside two brides. The card quickly went viral on WhatsApp and social media. The unusual invite sparked a flood of reactions, ranging from shock to support.
The occasion has brought Meghrajbhai unexpected media attention, with well-wishers calling in from across Gujarat. Though the union may seem unconventional to outsiders, within Meghrajbhai’s tribal community, such marriages are culturally accepted and recognised.
The relationship of Meghrajbhai started in 2010, when he got engaged to Kajal Gavit of Khanda village. Three years later he also got engaged with Rekhaben Gain of Kelia village. Instead of choosing either of them, Meghrajbhai entered into a live-in relationship with both women. Later, this decision was acknowledged and accepted under the tribal practice of Chandla Vidhi.
As per the village’s custom, couples are permitted to live as husband and wife before formally marrying. The understanding is that they will officially wed through social and religious rites once they are financially stable. Meghrajbhai and his partners followed this path; even before the formal marriage, they raised a family together, with Kajal bearing two children and Rekha one, and waited until the moment felt appropriate to tie the knot.
While such an arrangement might be seen as unusual or attention-seeking elsewhere, in Khanpur, it is viewed as a natural expression of love, responsibility, and tradition.
(Manas Dasgupta)
