Marriage Types in District Kinnaur | HPPSC HPAS Preparation - HPPSC HPAS (Himachal Pardesh) PDF Download

Marriage Customs in Kinnaur District

Marriage customs reflect the standards and progress of a society. In Kinnaur district, there are four main forms of marriage:

Janekhang or Janetang

Janekhang or Janetang signifies a common arranged marriage where families play a crucial role in the matchmaking process.

Damchalshish or Damtangshish or Benang-hachis or Jushish

This type represents a love marriage where individuals choose their partners based on affection and personal preference.

Darosh or dub-dub or Nymasha Depang or Nymasha lemo or Ashish or huchis

• It is a unique tribal marriage custom observed in Kinnaur.
• The tradition involves a symbolic act where a girl is playfully 'forcibly' taken from a festival ground by the groom-to-be.
• Despite her protests and resistance, the groom persists in holding onto her.
• Following this, the groom's father sends representatives to the girl's family to apologize for the seemingly disrespectful act.
• The girl's father then negotiates a compensation known as 'Izzul,' typically ranging from 100/- to Rs. 500/-, which is paid on the spot.
• Within a month, after the settlement, the groom, accompanied by his relatives and two women, escorts the bride back to her home.
• During this journey, several baskets of fried cakes are carried as a gesture of respect.
• The groom presents 'Reumalang' (consisting of Chilyona dried apricots and Chulli garlands) to his mother-in-law and other elder female members of the family.
• A customary ceremony known as 'Sten rannik' is conducted, where cash gifts are given according to each person's capacity.
• Subsequently, the groom leaves his wife with her parents, only to return after a few days.
• When the bride returns to her in-laws, she is often gifted with ornaments, utensils, and clothing by her parents.

Har: Understanding the Cultural Practice

• When a woman, feeling discontent with her spouse, chooses to cohabit with another man, this act is termed as 'Har'.
• Within certain elevated social strata, 'Har' is deemed as illicit and forbidden.
• In the Kinnaur region, 'Har' is known by the names 'Kuchis' or 'Khutu Kima'.

Divorce Ritual in District Kinnaur

• Husband and wife participate in a symbolic ritual where they each grasp a dry, lengthy twig of the Shur tree in their right hands, swiftly breaking it with force. The shattered remnants are cast behind them.
• This ceremonial act is referred to as 'Shing Tag Tag', 'Shingtickashimig', or 'thag Chocha'.