Bania unspecified in India


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.

Introduction / History

The Vania people are also called Bania or Mahajan. The word Vania is derived from 'Vaniji', which means 'trader' in Sanskrit. The Vania community has gotras (clans) such as Agarwal, Dasora, Dishawal, Kapol, Nagori, Vagada, Modh and Nagar.

Many of these names are based on the names of the place they are from. The Agrawal, though they are settled mainly in North Gujarat, take their name from Agar Town. The Jharola live in eastern Gujarat and come from Jalor of Rajashthan and Maharashtra. The titles used by the Vania are Shah, Shroff, Parikkh, Chokshi, Seth and Gandhi.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The Vania community consists of two religious divisions, namely Vaishnava and Jain. Most of the groups of Vania are split into Visha meaning twenty and Dasha or ten. These subdivisions are further divided into Ekda and Bagda. The Bagda mostly live in villages, while Ekda live in villages and towns. They have an organization called the Mandal to look after the temples and the community's property.

Business, trade, jewellery-making and agriculture are the traditional occupations of the Vania. Floor painting and folk songs represent the Vania's art and culture. The naming of the newborn ritual is performed by a Jangam priest by putting a thread around the infant's neck.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Vania are Hindu by religion. They are Vaishnavite and devotees of Shrinathji. A section of them are from the Jain community. The Vania maintain intercommunity linkages with the Brahmin, Valand, Soni and other communities through trade and service. The Vania in the state of Maharashtra are mostly followers of the Lingayat religion.


Prayer Points

For the salvation of the Vania people and that God may send several Christian workers among them and meet their spiritual and physical needs.
Pray for developmental and literacy programs among the people.


Scripture Prayers for the Bania unspecified in India.


Profile Source:   India Missions Association - Edited by Philipose Vaidyar  Copyrighted ©   Used with permission  

People Name General Bania
People Name in Country Bania unspecified
Pronunciation BAHN-yah
Alternate Names Aggarwal; Agrawal; Arayia Vaisya; Arya Vaisya; Arya Vysya; Balija; Bandekara; Banikya; Baniya; Baniyan; Baqal; Bhatia; Chetti; Chettiar; Gomatulu; Gujarati Vania; Gupta; Jain; Komati; Komti; Komuti; Kongu; Kshatriya; Kumti; Kumuti; Lalaji; Mahajan; Mahajan Vania; Marwadi; Mathura; Padayachi; Rajput; Sahukar; Sarak; Shetti; Shetty; Vaishya; Vaisiyal Chettiar; Vaisya; Vani; Vani Bania; Vania; Vysy; Vysya; बनिया
Population this Country 16,981,000
Population all Countries 17,170,000
Total Countries 6
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 3  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 340
People ID 16318
ROP3 Code 111452
ROP25 Code 300836
ROP25 Name Bania
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 36
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Uttar Pradesh
5,043,000
Rajasthan
4,949,000
Maharashtra
3,690,000
Gujarat
2,658,000
Andhra Pradesh
2,089,000
Madhya Pradesh
2,044,000
West Bengal
1,401,000
Telangana
1,048,000
Assam
1,030,000
Bihar
809,000
Haryana
807,000
Tamil Nadu
739,000
Karnataka
656,000
Delhi
602,000
Punjab
373,000
Districts Interactive map, listing and data download
Specialized Website South Asia Peoples
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 36  (only 20 largest shown)
  Uttar Pradesh 5,043,000
  Rajasthan 4,949,000
  Maharashtra 3,690,000
  Gujarat 2,658,000
  Andhra Pradesh 2,089,000
  Madhya Pradesh 2,044,000
  West Bengal 1,401,000
  Telangana 1,048,000
  Assam 1,030,000
  Bihar 809,000
  Haryana 807,000
  Tamil Nadu 739,000
  Karnataka 656,000
  Delhi 602,000
  Punjab 373,000
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
89.07 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
10.93 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (12,291,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 60
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Telugu
2,921,000
Marwari
2,581,000
Gujarati
2,521,000
Marathi
1,747,000
Bengali
1,269,000
Sindhi
910,000
Dhundari
727,000
Tamil
654,000
Kannada
573,000
Bhojpuri
533,000
Assamese
405,000
Shekhawati
274,000
Konkani
258,000
Awadhi
221,000
Mewari
212,000
Primary Language Hindi (12,291,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 60
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Telugu 2,921,000
  Marwari 2,581,000
  Gujarati 2,521,000
  Marathi 1,747,000
  Bengali 1,269,000
  Sindhi 910,000
  Dhundari 727,000
  Tamil 654,000
  Kannada 573,000
  Bhojpuri 533,000
  Assamese 405,000
  Shekhawati 274,000
  Konkani 258,000
  Awadhi 221,000
  Mewari 212,000
People Groups Speaking Hindi

Primary Language:  Hindi

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1806-1962)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1811-1998)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1818-2022)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings DAVAR Partners recording, Old Testament DAVAR Partners International
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Hindi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source India Missions Association - Edited by Philipose Vaidyar  Copyrighted ©  Used with permission 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



Joshua Project logo    Joshua Project    Copyright © 2024