question_answer

  Explain any five factors responsible for the annual movement of the Dhangars. Or Examine the migration pattern of the Dhangar community of Maharashtra. Under what condition do they return to their homeland?            Or Explain the annual seasonal movement of the Dhangars.          

Answer:

                  Dhangars were an important pastoral community of Maharashtra. They stayed in the central plateau of Maharashtra during monsoon. In the monsoon this tract became a vast grazing ground for the Dhangar flocks. (i) Dhangars   move   from   central   plateau during October-November due to shortage of fodder. (ii) They moved to Konkan which is a flourishing agricultural tract with high rainfall and rich soil. (iii) The locals or Konkani peasants welcomed Dhangars as their fields had to be fertilised and made ready for the rabi harvest. (iv) Dhangar flocks manured the fields and fed on the stubble. (v) The Konkani peasants also gave supplies of rice which the Dhangar shepherd took back to the plateau where grain was scarce.