Question

The Dhangars harvested their ‘bajra’ by…………..
a. July
b. August
c. September
d. October

Answer 1

Hint: The Dhangars grow ‘bajra’ during monsoon. After harvesting the ‘bajra’ they move towards Konkan in the West. That is after the monsoon is over.

Complete answer: The Dhangars are the pastoral community of Maharashtra. Some of them are shepherds, blanket and wool weavers, and some are buffalo herders.
During monsoon, they live in the Central plateau of Maharashtra. These plateaus are semi-arid regions with low rainfall and poor soil. This makes it an ideal place for the livestock of the Dhangars. Their sheep cannot bear the wet climate and thus makes it suitable for them. During this time, the Dhangars grow dry crops like bajra.
 After the monsoon, in October, they harvest their ‘bajra’. Afterwards, they start moving towards Konkan in the West in search of pasture land for their cattle.
Again, on the arrival of monsoon they return back to the Central plateaus.

Looking at the options given:
Option a: The Dhangars cultivate their ‘bajra’ in the month of July. It is an incorrect answer.
Option b: The Dhangars do not harvest ‘bajra’ in the month of August. It is an incorrect answer.
Option c: The Dhangars do not harvest ‘bajra’ in the month of September. It is an incorrect answer.
Option d: The Dhangars harvest ‘bajra’ in the month of October. It is the correct answer.

Hence, Option ‘d’ is correct.

Note: The Dhangars stay in the central plateaus during monsoon to avoid wet climate for their cattle. It is that time when they grow ‘bajra’. After the monsoon they harvest ‘bajra’ in October and move towards the West in search of pasture lands.