Mahadeo is the special deity of the Dhangars, and they also observe
the ordinary Hindu festivals. At Diwali they worship their goats by
dyeing their horns and touching their feet. One Bahram of Nachangaon
near Pulgaon is the tutelary deity of the Wardha Dhangars and the
protector of their flocks. On the last day of the month of Magh
they perform a special ceremony called the Deo Puja. A Dhimar acts
as priest to the caste on this occasion and fashions some figures
of idols out of rice to which vermilion and flowers are offered. He
then distributes the grains of rice to the Dhangars who are present,
pronouncing a benediction. The Dhimar receives his food and a present,
and it is essential that the act of worship should be performed by
one of this caste. In their houses they have Kul-Devi and Khandoba
the Maratha hero, who are the family deities. But in large families
they are kept only in the house of the eldest brother. Kul-Devi or the
goddess of the family is worshipped at weddings, and a goat is offered
to her in the month of Chait (March). The head is buried beneath her
shrine inside the house and the body is consumed by members of the
family only. Khandoba is worshipped on Sundays and they identify him
with the sun. Vithoba, a form of Vishnu, is revered on Wednesdays,
and Balaji, the younger brother of Rama, on Fridays. Many families
also make a representation of some deceased bachelor relative, which
they call Munjia, and of some married woman who is known as Mairni
or Sasin, and worship them daily.