The Kshatriya Dhangar caste is primarily located in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Most Dhangars are shepherds. The literal translation of the name Dhangar is "Who is having lots of wealth". Dhangars are said to be descendents of Yadavas. The main Dhangar subcastes in Maharashtra are Ahir, Hatkar, Khutekar, Sengar/Shegar, Sangar, Bande, Konkani, Khatik, Zende, Dange, Zade, Jade(derived from yadu see:Yadav), Dhanawar, Kuruba, Lad Mendhe, Pal, Gadari, Kurbar, Khatik, Gadhariya, Metkari, Gadge, Gawali, Kambar, Kshitri, Khillari, Bhillari, Kuktekar, Mhaskar, Shirotya and Utekar.

The Dhangar community is one of the oldest existing communities of India, tracing its history back to Mahabharata times. They have sprung several ruling dynasties, most recently the Holkars of Indore.

Prominent Dhangars have been Hakkaraya and Bukkaraya, founders of Vijayanagara Empire, Hoysalas, Pallavas, Rashtrakutas, Rathore, Mauryas, Holkars, Kadambs, Sids, Sangolli Rayanna, Yadava Dynasty etc. Great poets like Kalidasa, Kanakadasa are Dhangars.

The famous Vittal temple at Pandharpur was built by Vishnu Wardhan who was a Dhangar from the Hoysala Dynasty.

The famous Meenakshi temple at Madurai was built by the Pallavas.

Traditionally being warriors, shepherds and farmers, Dhangars were late to take up modern day education.

Dhangari Gaja

This is a dance form performed by Dhangars of Sholapur district of Maharashtra. Their poetry is mainly inspired by the evergreen trees all around. The poetry is in a form called 'Ovi' which is made up of couplets. These poems also contain tales of the birth of their God "Biruba" or Birappa, in simple and basic lines. The group of dancers surround the drum players and move at the rhythm.

Jejuri

Jejuri is one of the famous temples in Maharashtra. The God of Jejuri - Mhalsakant or Malhari Martand - is popular amongst the Dhangars.

Other Names

Dhangars are known by different names in different regions of the country.

Andar Ahiyaru Bharavadaru DoddiGowda Gaddi Gadri Gollavadu Gowda Halumatha Heggades Idyar Kuruba Kuruba Gowda Kurumba Goundar Kurumbar Kalavar Kuruma Kurumavaaru Kurkhi Kurupu Naikers Palaru Paalakyatriya Poduvar Yadavalu.

Clans

Dhangars are Kshatriyas. Kshatriyas have three Castes. The Rajputs, Marathas and Dhangars. Rajputs mainly had their Kingdoms in North India, the Marathas in Maharashtra and Dhangars in Karnataka. Rajputs have 36 Clans, Marathas have 96 Clans and Dhangars have 32 Clans. A caste is generally divided into exogamous groups based on the same gotras (गो�त्र), and defined by the mutual interaction among its members. The two most common of these relationships are:

"Roti" (bread): dining together. "Beti" (daughter): intermarrying together.

Originally these castes were one and had mutual interactions of "Roti", "Beti" amongst them.The following list of clans is limited to few surnames of all sub-castes from Maharashtra.

1 Kharat

Lineage(Vansh): Agnivanshi Gotra : Parihar Guru : Pundlik

Surnames:-

Dhaygude, Pandhare, Sul, Borwar, Amane, Dhake, Tele, Palve / Pallavas, Kolpe, Ghagare, Pinjare, Raijade, Kavle, Bhadke, Ghodke, Vele, Tarade, Tamkhade, Ratnaparkhe, Malage, Zhurale,Vande, Gete, Vharkate, Landge, Patkare, Bhople, Thorbole, Sursule, Punekar, Guldawade, Kharate, Satkule, Vange, Palasgawade, Chutkule, Golari.

2 Lawate

Lineage (Vansh): Agnivanshi Gotra : Solanki Guru : Bharadvaja

Surnames:-

Narute, Bandgar, Mane, Margale, Hajare, Shendge, Wavare, Dabale, Pokale, Garwat, Pisal, Kasgude, Nemane, Dhulwade, Bhanawse, Kshirsagar, Shemde, Chore, Halge, Kargal, Kiswe, Gawade, Bindugade, Thite, Kakade, Gaske, Margude, Rode, Zhival,Reve, Badre, Wadere, Dargude, Bagnawar, Zhadgar, Birle, Nigunde, Badhanwar, Misal, Birje, Tandale.

3 Thorat

Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi Gotra : Gahlot Guru : Kashyapa

Surnames:-

Anawase, Mahanwar, Tanal, Khatke, Waykule, Pavne, Satpute, Lokhande, Shigwate, Deokar, Kalgude, Dhakar, Barve, Khamgal, Supkar, Supne, Late, Pandharmise, Sumne, Patole.

4 Kolekar

Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi Gotra : Kanvah Guru : Manav

Surnames:-

Murde, Sose, Daigande, Hamamkhore, Botyate, Didwagh, Aaglave, Karpe, Bansode, Cavdhare, Aanavale, Naske, Gadve, Raut, Kundlik, Bhagwat.

5 Shinde

Lineage (Vansh): Agnivanshi Gotra : Parihar Guru : Pundlik

Surnames:-

Zunje, Kaljate, Kandure, Handware, Khadke, Bendre, Dhone, Bichukle, Harale, Sute.

6 Hake

Lineage (Vansh): Chandravanshi Gotra : Yadav Guru : Kaudinya

Surnames:-

Madne, Khareje, Gophane, Dahibhate, Ghutkade, Hande, Dolwade, Lubale, Ebade, Zhalgar, Metkari, Pise, Bijgude, Hise, Lande, Bane, Bargale, Warge.

7 Swar

Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi Gotra : Gahlot Guru : Kashyapa

Surnames:-

Sudnawar, Hegadkar, Balar, Barange, Dhpatwar, Gele, Dinde, Sirgire, Goikar, Satye.

8 Solankar

Lineage (Vansh): Chandravanshi Gotra : Yadav Guru : Kaudinya

Surnames:-

Parkar, Khandekar, Waghmode, Hirve, Ekkar, Thavre, Ogare, Nitwe, Ingale, Doiphodhe, Tambe, Sid, Padule, Hagre, Gawand, Ghogre, Dhupe, Sarje, Gadekar, Kolse, Hade, Dhamdere, Virkar.

9 Deokate

Lineage (Vansh): Agnivanshi Gotra : Chauhan Guru : Vatsa

Surnames:-

Arjun, Gorad, Vhanmane, Walekar, Rupnawar, Barkade, Metkari, Dhere, Tambe, Tale, Dongre, Bagade, Bhamte, Utare, Kole, Zhade, Khilari, Dabe, Agune, Dorwe, Hanumane, Sudlak, Nigade.

10 Wakse

Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi Gotra : Gahlot Guru : Kashyapa

Surnames:-

Uske, Maske, Choramle, Sirsat, Bangale, Kurhade, Mugutrao.

11 Sargar

Lineage (Vansh): Agnivanshi Gotra : Chauhan Guru : Vatsa

Surnames:-

Sadnawar, Phonde, Pipre, Katre, Malgonde, Gadve, Metkari, Kuspe, Nambalkar, Sumpape, Khupkar, Turbare.

12 Sarak

Lineage (Vansh): Agnivanshi Gotra : Solanki Guru : Bharadvaja

Surnames:-

Zharak, Taranwar, Shelke, Ghite, Lakde, Chopde, Bhadke, Perwale, Harale, Virje, Pisal, Shelar.

13 Halnawar

Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi Gotra : Gahlot Guru : Kashyapa

Surnames:-

Bivkar, Dilgude, Hulgunde, Dudhe, Sarwade, Yele, Shiddhaguru, Kodalkar.

14 Kokare

Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi Gotra : Rathod Guru : Gautama

Surnames:-

Hajge, Hogle, Aswale, Pingale, Sontakke, Karhade, Malwade, Rachkar, Devpuje, Sondge, Bhusare, Rajgar, Virkar, Lambhate, Hulkar/Holkar.

15 Jankar

Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi Gotra : Gahlot Guru : Kashyapa

Surnames:-

Karande, Raut, Mote, Male, Ghule, Bidghar, Waghe, Karmare, Kare, Padalkar.

16 Kale

Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi Gotra : Kadam Guru : Manav

Surnames:-

Mahin, Ghahine, Sarse, Hubale, Shriram, Gore, Dombale, Singare, Gharbudwe, Dadas, Namkade, Sigire.

17 Khatal

Lineage (Vansh): Agnivanshi Gotra : Solanki Guru : Bharadvaja

Surnames:-

Shejal, Dudhal,Waghmare, Garande, Galande.

18 Yedage

Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi Gotra : Gahlot Guru : Kashyapa

Surnames:-

Jedage, Sanne, Jugdar, Jondhale, Jawalge, Garande, Galande, Redke.

19 Ainwar

Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi Gotra : Gahlot Guru : Kashyapa

Surnames:-

Aainwar, Budhnawar, Daknawae, Koyanwar, Makanwar, Bhadnawar.

20 Shingade

Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi Gotra : Sengar Guru : Gautama

Surnames:-

Burungale, Tarade, Vhatkar, Dhawan, Malawe.

21 Bute

Lineage (Vansh): Agnivanshi Gotra : Pratihara Guru : Vasishta

Surnames:-

Tate, Kachare, More/Maurya, Kuwalkude, Bavdan, Doiphode, Wagh, Pise, Bire, Dalvi, Keskar.

22 Lengre

Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi Gotra : Sengar Guru : Gautama

Surnames:-

Pisundare, Kalindare, Wagare, Jalindare, Sigare.

23 Aawale

Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi Gotra : Gahlot Guru : Kashyapa

Surnames:-

Pukale, Yamgar, Yamanwar.

24 Thombre

Lineage (Vansh): Yaduvanshi Gotra : Tomara Guru : Gargayan

Surnames:-

Sonawle, Vhate, Katmare.

25 Thengal

Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi Gotra : Gahlot Guru : Kashyapa

Surnames:-

Sangane, Tule, Thengale

26 Aaldar

Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi Gotra : Gahlot Guru : Kashyapa

Surnames:-

Waldawar, Karnawar, Kamade, Dange.

27 Takale

Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi Gotra : Gahlot Guru : Kashyapa

Surnames:-

Arade, Tupe, Tikale.

28 Markad

Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi Gotra : Gahlot Guru : Kashyapa

Surnames:-

Shivarkar, Mutkar.

29 Dagade

Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi Gotra : Gahlot Guru : Kashyapa

Surnames:-

Pole, Pole, Sansalate, Suslade/Sisodiya.

30 Masal

Lineage (Vansh): Agnivanshi

Gotra : Solanki Guru : Bharadvaja

Surnames:-

Misaal, Gonmasal, Amuksiddha, Khajane, Saal, Bhadange, Walse, Paleri, Wader

31 Lokare

Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi Gotra : Gahlot Guru : Kashyapa

Surnames:-

Belnawar

32 Kulal

Lineage (Vansh): Suryavanshi Gotra : Gahlot Guru : Kashyapa

Surnames:-

Bhise, BuchteThe people of the Ahir tribe are traditionally cow herders and shepherds. They are a subcaste of Dhangar and are not only found in the Kaatch (Kutch) area of western

Gujarat, but also in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The Ahirs also share most gotras with the Jats (Abhars) and have the same physical appearance as

them. This led to the theory they being of the same stock. Ahirs

Classification: Caste/Dhangar Significant populations in: Northern India, Western India and Central India Language Hindi and its dialects, Punjabi,Gujarati and Marathi Religion Hinduism.