Buddhist women in far-flung hamlets of the Himalayan region are not shy of polyandry - an age-old custom that allows a woman to keep more than one husband ... Argues sociologist Sonam Yangzes: "This was necessary mainly to protect the family land and to keep the population within limits".

She says the practice of fraternal polyandry (within one family and between blood brothers) is more common than a woman marrying outside one family. The other form of polyandry is Phorsak, a woman having relationship with men who are not brothers ...

According to Ms. Yangzes, the practice of one marriage per household was meant to avoid land division. "The system is still prevalent in the remote areas of the Khalsi region", she says, adding that the custom was retained by (said) Buddhist sects ...

(Polyandry) is confirmed by Janet Rizvi in her well- researched book - Ladakh: Crossroads of High Asia. "Within the polyandrous marriage, the paternity of the children was regarded as irrelevant: All the children were accepted as being of the eldest brother, whom they addressed as big father; the younger brothers would be little fathers" (Source: The Hindustan Times, 26 June, 2000)