Agrahari Bania 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

Hiralal's face turned red with rage. His son had just asked him to seek a marriage agreement with the daughter of Mr. Sandeep Gupta. Ordinarily this would have been a joyful time. He would proudly arrange the meeting and begin the process leading to a wedding.
Hiralal's family runs a successful business near Delhi. The Guptas also have their own lucrative enterprise. But Hiralal is from the Agrahari people. The Guptas are from the Agarwals. Centuries ago the two groups were joined in the same caste. At some point a disagreement arose. No one remembers the cause, but now each group avoids the other. No one seems able to bring reconciliation between the two communities.


What Are Their Needs?

Any efforts to bring the message of Jesus to the Agraharis must remain sensitive to the differences between the Agrawals and the Agrahari groups. It is not enough to be sensitive to Hindu culture. The evangelist must respect the specific distinctions of the different groups.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Holy Spirit will win some from each of these two groups and use them to bring peace and reconciliation that will draw others to the Prince of Peace.
Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send believers from the Agrahari group to reap souls from their own people.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will stir a hunger and thirst for a righteousness that can only come from the true God of the universe.


Scripture Prayers for the Bania Agrahari in India.


References

Some information from "The Scheduled Castes" K. S. Singh, ed. Oxford University Press, USA (1994)


Profile Source:   Global Prayer Digest  

People Name General Bania Agrahari
People Name in Country Bania Agrahari
Natural Name Agrahari Bania
Alternate Names Agrahari bania; Agrahari Baniya; Agrahri; Agrari; बनिया, आग्रहरी
Population this Country 385,000
Population all Countries 388,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 8
People ID 19689
ROP3 Code 115141
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 17
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Uttar Pradesh
295,000
West Bengal
22,000
Bihar
19,000
Assam
18,000
Madhya Pradesh
11,000
Delhi
6,800
Uttarakhand
4,200
Chhattisgarh
3,300
Maharashtra
2,000
Jharkhand
1,900
Tripura
1,300
Andhra Pradesh
700
Telangana
400
Chandigarh
200
Odisha
90
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 17
  Uttar Pradesh 295,000
  West Bengal 22,000
  Bihar 19,000
  Assam 18,000
  Madhya Pradesh 11,000
  Delhi 6,800
  Uttarakhand 4,200
  Chhattisgarh 3,300
  Maharashtra 2,000
  Jharkhand 1,900
  Tripura 1,300
  Andhra Pradesh 700
  Telangana 400
  Chandigarh 200
  Odisha 90
Website South Asia Peoples
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 India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (256,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 17
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Bhojpuri
40,000
Bengali
11,000
Awadhi
6,300
Assamese
6,200
Bundeli
1,300
Kanauji
1,100
Angika
800
Chhattisgarhi
700
Marathi
500
Garhwali
300
Malvi
200
Gujarati
100
Kumaoni
100
Meitei
100
Konkani
30
Primary Language Hindi (256,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 17
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Bhojpuri 40,000
  Bengali 11,000
  Awadhi 6,300
  Assamese 6,200
  Bundeli 1,300
  Kanauji 1,100
  Angika 800
  Chhattisgarhi 700
  Marathi 500
  Garhwali 300
  Malvi 200
  Gujarati 100
  Kumaoni 100
  Meitei 100
  Konkani 30
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)
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Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings DAVAR Partners recording, Old Testament DAVAR Partners International
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Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
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Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Hindi Jesus Film Project
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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
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Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Global Prayer Digest 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.