Dhangars


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

Dhangars

Dhangars:

  • Dhangars were an important pastoral of Maharastra. Some of them were buffalo headers while others were shephards and still others were engaged in weaving of jobs, especially in blanket weaving.
  • During monsoon, the dhangars shepherds stayed in central plateau of Maharashtra which was a semi - arid area with poor soil and low rainfall.
  • They cultivated a dry crop like bajra and tended their flock on the thorny scrub grown there.
  • In October, when they had reaped bajra crop , they started their journey westwards to kolkata where they and their flock was welcomed by the Konkan peasants. It was give and take reaction.
  • The Dhangars flocks were fed on the suitable (or green stalks) left after the kharif harvest and in return, their flock manured the fields of the konkan peasants.
  • With onset  of the monsoon in the konkan and the coastal areas, the dhangars marched back of their dry sojourn in the central plateau  of Maharastra.
  • So the dhangars of the Maharashtra also had to go through the cycle of the seasonal movements.
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