Question

Write a brief note on Gaddi Sheperds and Dangars.

Answer 1

Gaddi Shepherds is a nomadic group from Himachal Pradesh. They make seasonal movement in summers and winters. During winter season, they stay in lower range of Shiwaliks to provide pastures to their animals.

By April, with the onset of summers, they go up in the Himalayas when snow melts . After summers end, by September, they again march towards their lower base, i.e. shiwaliks.Their main occupation is rearing and selling sheep, goats, cattle etc.Recently they have started using sheep wool for making woollen attire and selling it.

Dhangars were an important pastoral community of Maharashtra.They were mainly shepherds .They stayed in the Central Plateau of Maharashtra during the monsoons as the area becomes fertile during monsoons and provide vast grazing grounds for the dhangar flocks.
They reach Konkan in the month of March annually which is agriculturally rich and the soil here is fertile for cultivation.The Konkani peasants give them supplies of rice and grains and in return the sheep flocks of the tribes graze the agricultural fields of the peasants.