Marriage
They arrange marriages in groups. The practice of child marriage has died out. Marriage between people with the same surname or within the same clan is forbidden, widow remarriage and polygamy are allowed. Marriage with nephew and niece is allowed. Sexual licence before marriage is strictly prohibited. The age of marriage for the boys varies from 22 years to 25 and for the girls from 18 years to 21 years. Earlier the marriageable age was from 16 years to 20 years for the boys and for the girls 14 to 16 years. Mangalsutra and green bangles are the symbols of a married girl. The person bearing the same surname cannot marry each other because the members of the same surname have the same 'kul', but they can marry in the same Devak. They may marry outside kul. The priest who presides over their religious ceremonies is not a Brahmin but a 'Sikadi' ( a priest of their own cast). It is the sikadi who selects the day of marriage. In Dhangar samaj they talk about a groop (joto) on engagement day. The groop consist of green sari, green bangles,9 yards saree, deveracha aaher sari, turban, headgear, braclete, mangalsutra, handerchief, bouquet as discussed by both family on same day the marriage is fixed.
The day before the marriage there is a practice of grinding of dried turmeric, to be applied to the bride which is made at bride's house and for groom at groom's place. All the villagers are invited for this ritual. Primitive wooden tool known as the 'musal' is used grinding and songs are also sung. After the end of haldi ceremony, ceremonial bath is given to both the bride and the groom. The bath is given by the younger sister of bride and the groom and is folloed strictly. On the day of marriage the bride wears the sari while the groom is adorned with dress,hat, dhotar and the special hat specially made for the grooms for marriage. Groom holds the coconut and knife as he enters the hall, then the bride is brought and marriage ceremony takes place by holding a cloth between bride and the groom i.e. antarpat and marriage rituals are performed by special people known as yadegae labore who are considered as the priests.
Once the bride's parents give their girls hand in the hand of her husband and their son-in-law, she changes her surname and uses husband name instead of father's name. The groom visits the bride's house and steals their god and after accepting some obligation he returns it to them and comes to his house along with his wife. The groom visits the brie are kept in the courtyard and the bride and groom play the traditional game known as the Kalshicha Khel. In this ritual the turmeric water, coins and finger ring are kept and this ritual has very high importance in Dhangar samaj. The bride has to use both hands whereas the groom has to use only the right hand and take the objects. The bride has to open the folded fingers of the groom with both hands and then has to take name of her husband and that too in riddle. After this ritual, meal is offered to the relatives and the invitees.
After that four or five ''bhakaris" usually prepared from nachni are kept on one another. The newly wedded bride and groom keeps their palma on these bhakaris and five married women after taking the names of their husbands in riddles pick up on bhakari each. This ritual concludes the marriage ceremony.
They arrange marriages in groups. The practice of child marriage has died out. Marriage between people with the same surname or within the same clan is forbidden, widow remarriage and polygamy are allowed. Marriage with nephew and niece is allowed. Sexual licence before marriage is strictly prohibited. The age of marriage for the boys varies from 22 years to 25 and for the girls from 18 years to 21 years. Earlier the marriageable age was from 16 years to 20 years for the boys and for the girls 14 to 16 years. Mangalsutra and green bangles are the symbols of a married girl. The person bearing the same surname cannot marry each other because the members of the same surname have the same 'kul', but they can marry in the same Devak. They may marry outside kul. The priest who presides over their religious ceremonies is not a Brahmin but a 'Sikadi' ( a priest of their own cast). It is the sikadi who selects the day of marriage. In Dhangar samaj they talk about a groop (joto) on engagement day. The groop consist of green sari, green bangles,9 yards saree, deveracha aaher sari, turban, headgear, braclete, mangalsutra, handerchief, bouquet as discussed by both family on same day the marriage is fixed.
The day before the marriage there is a practice of grinding of dried turmeric, to be applied to the bride which is made at bride's house and for groom at groom's place. All the villagers are invited for this ritual. Primitive wooden tool known as the 'musal' is used grinding and songs are also sung. After the end of haldi ceremony, ceremonial bath is given to both the bride and the groom. The bath is given by the younger sister of bride and the groom and is folloed strictly. On the day of marriage the bride wears the sari while the groom is adorned with dress,hat, dhotar and the special hat specially made for the grooms for marriage. Groom holds the coconut and knife as he enters the hall, then the bride is brought and marriage ceremony takes place by holding a cloth between bride and the groom i.e. antarpat and marriage rituals are performed by special people known as yadegae labore who are considered as the priests.
Once the bride's parents give their girls hand in the hand of her husband and their son-in-law, she changes her surname and uses husband name instead of father's name. The groom visits the bride's house and steals their god and after accepting some obligation he returns it to them and comes to his house along with his wife. The groom visits the brie are kept in the courtyard and the bride and groom play the traditional game known as the Kalshicha Khel. In this ritual the turmeric water, coins and finger ring are kept and this ritual has very high importance in Dhangar samaj. The bride has to use both hands whereas the groom has to use only the right hand and take the objects. The bride has to open the folded fingers of the groom with both hands and then has to take name of her husband and that too in riddle. After this ritual, meal is offered to the relatives and the invitees.
After that four or five ''bhakaris" usually prepared from nachni are kept on one another. The newly wedded bride and groom keeps their palma on these bhakaris and five married women after taking the names of their husbands in riddles pick up on bhakari each. This ritual concludes the marriage ceremony.