Dhobi Brides

Languages

City

State

Religion

Caste

City

Languages

State

Religion

Caste

The caste of Dhobis is found in various north Indian states and Maharashtra and they are believed to specialize in washing clothes. The term Dhobi is arrived from Hindi word 'šDhona'š that literally means to wash. It is interesting to note that people belonging to this caste adapt themselves to the customs of the place they reside in. For instance, the primary language of Dhobis is Hindi in north India; Gujarati in Gujarat and Marathi in Maharashtra. Dhobi matrimony is usually based on endogamy. Dhobi is an occupational caste and belongs to social group of people engaged in washing clothes. Men and women are engaged in this profession. The community members reside in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Haryana and Rajasthan. Girls from the Dhobi community are educated and are engaged in various professions in the private and public sectors. Common surnames of Dhobi Brides include Mathur, Jangade, Patrikar and Belwar. Marriage rituals for the dhobi brides differ from state to state. Dhobis are basically Hindus so their marriages follow the Hindu marriage rituals mostly. Hindu marriages take place with a lot of grandeur and are very colourful. The rituals and process in Dhobi matrimony vary widely given the geographical location. There are a few key rituals common in a Hindu wedding ceremony. These are Kanyadaan, Panigrahana and Saptapadi. Kanyadaan is where the bride is given away to the groom by the bride's father. Panigrahana is the ritual where the groom takes the hand of the bride as a sign of their union in the presence of the fire. Saptapadi is the most important ritual of all where the blessed couple walks seven rounds of the fire thus promising each other a union of all seven births.