Dhor Samaj

                                     

The name ' Dhor ' means ' horned cattle ' and is doubt- less bestowed upon this caste with reference to their occupation of tanning and dressing cattle skins. Very little is known regarding their origin. They appear to be a degraded branch of the great Chambhar caste of the Marathawada country. This view derives support from the fact that, in whatever country they are found settled, they speak Marathi as their home tongue. They are robust and fair, with well-developed chests and wide faces, and in all their features they gave evidence of a Maratha origin. The Maratah title of ' jhi ' is also affixed to their names.
Internal Structure:
  The Dhors are divided into five endo- gamous groups : (1) Range Dhor, (2) Budhale Dhor, (3) Kakayya Dhor, (4) Chambhar Dhor and (5) Shadu Dhor. The Range Dhors claim the highest rank and appear to be the original stock from which the other sub-castes have branched. They derive their name from the Marathi ' rangvine ' meaning 'to dye,' which refers to their occupation of ' staining hides. The Budhale Dhors, probably an offshoot from the Range Dhors, are so called because they make hudhales, or leather jars, for clarified butter and oil.
The mode of making a budhale is as follows : — A piece of leather is closely set over an earthen mould of the size and shape of the jar required and the joints are cemented with a paste made from tamarind seeds. After the leather has taken the form of the mould and solidified, the earth is removed from inside. These leather jars were extensively used as convenient receptacles for carrying clarified butter and oil on bullocks ; but since the opening of railways, they have been replaced by tins, and the budhale industry has almost died out. The Budhale Dhors have now taken to tanning and curing skins, making dholaks (drums), water bags, water buckets and other leather articles. The Kakayya Dhors trace their descent from one Kakayya, a disciple of Basava, the founder of the Lingayit sect. Kakayya was originally a Range Dhor, but having embraced Lingayitism he was cut off from his community and became the founder of a new sub-caste. In addition to their own work of staining hides, the Kakayyas cobble old shoes and sometimes make new ones. The Chambhar Dhor, as the name indicates, is a mixed sub-caste, probably evolved by marriages between the Chambhar and the Dhor castes. It occupies a degraded position to both of them. The Chambhar Dhors tan and jfain hides, make shoes and water buckets and water-bags. The Shadu Dhors are the illegitimate offspring of the Dhors, by Dhor women who have been degraded for some social offence. Within these sub-castes, there are again 360 exogamous sections, which appear to be entirely of Maratha origin. The section names are mostly of a territorial or titular type; but a few of them are totemistic, the totem being revered by the members of the, section bearing its name. For instance, the members of the Kavale section may not kill or injure a crow ; so also a Kavade is enjoined to pay devotion to cowrie shells.