Like the Dhimars they also act as palanquin-bearers, and hence has arisen a saying about them, 'The Besta is a great man when he carries shoes,' because the head of a gang of palanquin-bearers carries the shoes of the person who sits in it.

At their marriages the couple place a mixture of cummin and jaggery on each other's heads, and then gently press their feet on those of the other seven times.

Drums are beaten, and the bridegroom places rings on the toes of the bride and ties the _mangal-sutram_ or necklace of black beads round her neck.

They are seated side by side on a plough-yoke, and the ends of their cloths are tied together.

They are then taken outside and shown the Great Bear, the stars of which are considered to be the spirits of the seven principal Hindu Saints, and the pole-star, Arundhati, who represents the wife of Vasishtha and is the pattern of feminine virtue.