Seema looked at the wing through the window.She was flying to Kathmandu along with her husband Abhay.
“What is the purpose of the wing?,” and she wanted to ask her engineer husband beside her.She found him dozing.She smiled.”It’s hardly half an hour of take off, and he is already asleep!How carefree are men.”
She had a longing for a visit to Nepal since a long time .She had told her wish to Abhay.Her loving hubby had always assured her, “I will take you wherever you want to go, but do wait till my retirement from the government job.”
Now after his retirement ,he had planned this trip to her cherished place Nepal.They took their flight from Kolkata.
Abhay had a friend in Kathmandu, Mr Siddharth Thapa. During an electricity project of Nepal in collaboration with Odisha,he became a good friend with Abhay who was then the chief engineer electrical of Odisha and had helped him a lot in making the power project a success.He had requested Abhay to stay in his house at Kathmandu, not in a hotel they had planned to stay.
Mr.Thapa was at the airport to recieve them.
The following day, they started sightseeing.Thapa’s driver drove them around Kathmandu that day.He was a perfect guide for them.His name was Amol and he knew a lot about Nepal .He also entertained the couple from India with interesting stories about the Hindu country and its people.One among them was the story of the Panchali Prath, a custom followed there.
Seema listened to it with great interest as it was so unique, a girl marrying all the brothers in a family.But she wanted to know it in detail from Mr and Mrs thapa.Afterall they were educated people.The authenticity could be known from them only.Who knows , Amol might be over enthusiastic to please and impress us with framed stories?
After dinner , the hosts and guests sat at the balcony.
Abhay started the conversation and asked Thapa about the Panchali Pratha, wheather it was true.
Thapa agreed,” yes ,today also the practices continue.The Nyinba community in Nepal, live in the far off place in Humla district.This community continue this pratha in four villages, Bargam, Nim tang, Torpa, and Burause. These four villages are situated at the height of 2.550 to 3.300 meter from sea level. In this hard geographical situation, they live a very difficult life. The cultivable land are limited.So this rule came to shape up.A new rule took birth , if every brother of a family marries different girls, the land will be divided within brothers. The economic conditions will dwindle.”
“Why ,in your country also in Kumaon hills and the Himalayan area ,this pratha continue ?”
“Are you serious Mr.Thapa?, asked Seema.
She looked at Abhay and said,” how come we don’t know ?”
Thapa advised them to google.They both searched google, and it was there.
All of them laughed as Mrs Thapa said, “marriages are made in heaven but this rule was made on earth.”
Seema elaborated how Draupadi (Panchali) married the five Pandavas under certain circumstances.This custom perhaps was therefore named after her.
They all agreed that the rule was made to maintain economic stability.Rules are always made to be obeyed for betterment.
Siddharth Thapa continued, ” Though this practice banned legally in 1963 , the custom continues in remote communities as a way to avoid poverty.The eldest son marries first and he gives the ownership to other adult brothers.He stands as the head of the family.But all brothers are considered to have equal rights.They raise children collectively and children considered every brother as their father.
Seema was wonders truck.A rule so rude, even at the 21st century it is there!
She thought of Draupadi, the most beautiful, brilliant princess of Panchal.How much hardships and embarrassing situations she had faced during her lifetime by marrying the five brothers.
Rules are everywhere.In jungles, in valleys , in human society.But he or she only knows ,who obey it , where it pinch.
