The Banias originated over 5,000 years ago, and they are also called Vania or Mahajan. Their name is derived from Vaniji, which means "trader" in Sanskrit, an ancient South Asian language.
Of the four major Hindu varnas (caste clusters), Banias are in the third one, the Vaishyas. This caste cluster has always been about trade, business, and money lending. They were usually traders of grain and spices throughout history. Today Bania is a rather loose term, sometimes meaning caste and other times just business people.
Banias originated in the western Indian states of Gujarat and Rajasthan. In today's world, many Banias are locating to other parts of the world like the West where they can be reached much more easily than they can in India. There is a small number of them residing in Bhutan, where there is a Tibetan Buddhist majority.
Members of the Bania caste are among the wealthiest people in the world. Today they are still involved with businesses and money lending. A Bania might be the proud owner of a giant business, a small one, or he might be working in a bank. He might even own the bank. Others work in government ministries or as lawyers, judges, teachers, scholars, stockbrokers, or engineers.
They are often resented by other communities. As children, they are taught to never give; always bargain and make money. Business skills are passed down from father to son, and from an early age children are drilled in math and detailed calculations with the end purpose of winning in money transactions.
Nearly all Banias claim the Hindu religion, but as merchants they have chosen gods that reflect their profession. They worship the god of wealth, the god of good fortune and the god of money. These are the gods who drive their lives, gods that leave them with full wallets and empty hearts.
Banias need a spiritual transformation that will bring them to the point where they want to follow the ways of Jesus, and abandon the old ways that have left them spiritually empty and other castes economically devastated and resentful.
* Scripture Prayers for the Bania in Bhutan.
Pray that the veil of deception will be lifted from the eyes of the Banias in Bhutan and that they will see that the only true wealth is the spiritual riches gained through a loving relationship with Jesus Christ.
Pray that Christ's disciples will be called to work among them and share Christ in a culturally relevant way.
Pray for a disciple making movement to emerge among every Bania community.
http://www.peoplegroupsindia.com/profiles/bania/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bania_(caste)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaishya
http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/LIA5OcknCv3zQw2hJi0GDN/The-peculiar-pedigree-of-the-business-class.html
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/16318/IN
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/index.php/issue/day/2008/08/08
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/index.php/issue/day/2007/09/16
http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/index.php/issue/day/2009/08/25
Profile Source: Keith Carey |
Bania profile for Children and Family Missions Activities |
People Name General | Bania |
People Name in Country | Bania |
Pronunciation |
BAHN-yuh
|
Population this Country | 3,800 |
Population all Countries | 16,822,000 |
Total Countries | 6 |
Indigenous | No |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
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 |
People ID | 16318 |
ROP3 Code | 111452 |
Country | Bhutan | ||||||
Region | Asia, South | ||||||
Continent | Asia | ||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||||||
Persecution Rank | 34 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | ||||||
Total States on file | 4 | ||||||
Largest States |
|
||||||
Specialized Website | South Asia Peoples |
Country | Bhutan |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
Persecution Rank | 34 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 4 |
Western 2,700 | |
Eastern 800 | |
Southern 400 | |
Central 50 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Language | Assamese | ||||||
Language Code | asm Ethnologue Listing | ||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | ||||||
Total Languages | 6 | ||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Assamese |
Language Code | asm Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 6 |
Secondary Languages | |
Bengali | |
English | |
Hindi | |
Nepali | |
Marwari | |
People Groups | Speaking Assamese |
Primary Language: Assamese
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1822-1974) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1819-1993) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1833-1995) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Bible-NT Text | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching |
Audio Recordings | Online Audio Scripture |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio |
Film / Video | Following Jesus video |
Film / Video | God's Story video |
Film / Video | Indigitube.tv Video / Animation |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Assamese |
Film / Video | Magdalena video |
Film / Video | Story of Jesus for Children |
Film / Video | The Path of Light |
General | Biblical answers to your questions |
General | Four Spiritual Laws |
General | Gospel resources links |
General | Gospel website in this language |
Mobile App | Download Bible from Google Play Store |
Text / Printed Matter | Bible: Assamese |
Text / Printed Matter | Children and youth resources |
Text / Printed Matter | Christ for the Nations |
Text / Printed Matter | Jesus Messiah comic book |
Text / Printed Matter | Literacy primer for Assamese |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
100.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest Bhutan census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Photo Source |
(Representative photo) Banita Tour - Pixabay Creative Commons |
Map Source | People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project |
Profile Source | Keith Carey |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Read more |