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Nyinba women dressed with elaborated turquoise jewellery participate in the polyandry marriage ceremony by dancing and singing as they receive the Nyau, representatives of the groom. Many societies in the Himalaya practice polyandry, with women free to marry several husbands, generally set of brothers. it is a clever adaptation in lands of spare resources, as it secure the labor of several ,en to support a family, even as it limits family size, and thus, the human impact on the environment. But it is also a simple choice, for there are many harsh environments where polyandry is not the norm. Marriage rules are sensitive touchstones of culture. 1986. Humla, Northwest Nepal.
Wedding preparations inside the dharamsala (public resthouse used as the bride’s ceremonial hall). Great concentration is needed for the task of plaiting 108 wedding ceremony braids. Female wedding attendants use straw for brushes to apply oil to the hair. Many of these Limi girls will never have the chance to marry in this polyandrous society. Many will bear children out of wedlock.
Nyinba Humli maidens steal out of their homes and assemble outside the village to rendezvous with their lovers in a secret singing, dancing circle. Excess single women are expected to stay and work at their parents’home, though many have illicit liaisons despite social disapproval of out/of/wedlock births.
Three generations (from right to left) of a polyandrous family-grandfather brothers share a wife as do three fathers and three sons all living together under one roof. Humla, north-west Nepal.
Humla women dressed with heirloom jewellery will participate in the marriage ceremony by dancing and singing as they receive the representative party of the groom. Humla, north-west Nepal.
Humla women dressed with heirloom jewellery will participate in the marriage ceremony by dancing and singing as they receive the representative party of the groom. Humla, north-west Nepal.
Displaying family wealth with necklaces of amber, coral, conch, and turquoise, the women wear in herited gaus, portable alters, around their necks, and headdresses showing the influence of such western Himalayan Kingdom as Ladakh. Their rainbow trimmed robes, unique to the region. Humla, north-west Nepal.
Wedding preparations inside the dharamsala (public resthouse used as the bride’s ceremonial hall). Great concentration is needed for the task of plaiting 108 wedding ceremony braids. Female wedding attendants use straw for brushes to apply oil to the hair. Many of these Limi girls will never have the chance to marry in this polyandrous society. Many will bear children out of wedlock.
“May your home always know abundance and never now want,” the groom;s female relates song to the bride and her delegates inside te groom;s courtyard. The women offer the bride milk barley, tea and a torma (a ritual statue made of dough) as symbols of prosperity and wealth.
Nyinba women dressed with elaborated turquoise jewellery participate in the polyandry marriage ceremony by dancing and singing as they receive the Nyau, representatives of the groom. Many societies in the Himalaya practice polyandry, with women free to marry several husbands, generally set of brothers. it is a clever adaptation in lands of spare resources, as it secure the labor of several ,en to support a family, even as it limits family size, and thus, the human impact on the environment. But it is also a simple choice, for there are many harsh environments where polyandry is not the norm. Marriage rules are sensitive touchstones of culture.
1986.
Humla, Northwest Nepal.
Nyinba women dressed with elaborated turquoise jewellery participate in the polyandry marriage ceremony by dancing and singing as they receive the Nyau, representatives of the groom. Many societies in the Himalaya practice polyandry, with women free to marry several husbands, generally set of brothers. it is a clever adaptation in lands of spare resources, as it secure the labor of several ,en to support a family, even as it limits family size, and thus, the human impact on the environment. But it is also a simple choice, for there are many harsh environments where polyandry is not the norm. Marriage rules are sensitive touchstones of culture. 1986. Humla, Northwest Nepal.
Nyinba women dressed with elaborated turquoise jewellery participate in the polyandry marriage ceremony by dancing and singing as they receive the Nyau, representatives of the groom. Many societies in the Himalaya practice polyandry, with women free to marry several husbands, generally set of brothers. it is a clever adaptation in lands of spare resources, as it secure the labor of several ,en to support a family, even as it limits family size, and thus, the human impact on the environment. But it is also a simple choice, for there are many harsh environments where polyandry is not the norm. Marriage rules are sensitive touchstones of culture.
1986.
Humla, Northwest Nepal.
See photo in original gallery.
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