The name "Bania" is derived from Vaniji, which means "trader" in Sanskrit, an ancient South Asian language. The Agarwal are a sub-group of the Bania peoples who live across South Asia. Of the four major varnas (caste clusters of Hinduism), Banias are in the third one, the Vaishyas. They were usually traders of grain and spices throughout history. A much smaller population lives in Pakistan, Bangladesh or Nepal.
Despite their high incomes, the Banias have only modest status in the Hindu caste pyramid. The Bania tend to resent the higher two varnas, the Brahmins and the Kshatriyas. Thus, Banias have often been leaders in caste reform movements. Mahatma Gandhi is one example, but there have been many others throughout India's long history. Agarwal is one of the Bania groups.
Ironically, the Banias are often resented by others. They are known to charge excessive interest rates. A pre-literate farmer might take a loan from a Bania only to find that a high percentage of his harvest will be taken away as interest. Customers often must put up their land and farms for collateral in case they cannot pay back their loans.
Agarwal Bania children learn early to "never give; always bargain and make money." From an early age, children are drilled in math and detailed calculations with the purpose of getting the upper hand in monetary transactions. Fathers pass business skills to their sons. Agarwal Bania parents strongly encourage their children, especially the boys, to obtain graduate degrees related to business.
Monogamy or marriage to one spouse is the norm among Bania groups.
Agarwal Banias who feel a need for God in a Hindu context are likely to try to fill it with Hindu rituals. An Agarwal Bania might visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. Others might try to fill the God-shaped void with philosophy.
The Agarwals generally do not feel the need for Christ. They need the desire to see beyond the natural world.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will create a hunger in the hearts of prominent Agarwal businessmen.
Pray for a powerful church to reach the Agarwal Bania people.
Pray that Agarwal believers can demonstrate the love and character of Christ to their kinsmen.
Scripture Prayers for the Bania Agarwal in Nepal.
Some information from “The Scheduled Castes” K. S. Singh, ed. Oxford University Press, USA (1994)
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Bania Agarwal |
People Name in Country | Bania Agarwal |
Natural Name | Agarwal Bania |
Pronunciation | AG-ur-wahl BAHN-yah |
Alternate Names | Agarwal; Aggarwal; Agrabalia; Arya; Arya Vysya; Bania; Chetti; Gupta; Jain; Komati; Marwadi; Vaisya Agarwal; Vysya; बनिया, अॅगर्वल |
Population this Country | 22,000 |
Population all Countries | 5,815,000 |
Total Countries | 4 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 19688 |
ROP3 Code | 115140 |
ROP25 Code | 300836 |
ROP25 Name | Bania |
Country | Nepal | ||||||||||||
Region | Asia, South | ||||||||||||
Continent | Asia | ||||||||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||||||||||||
National Bible Society | Website | ||||||||||||
Persecution Rank | Not ranked | ||||||||||||
Total States on file | 12 | ||||||||||||
Largest States |
|
Country | Nepal |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Total States | 12 |
Lumbini 7,500 | |
Narayani 4,000 | |
Bheri 2,000 | |
Bagmati 2,000 | |
Kosi 1,600 | |
Janakpur 1,600 | |
Sagarmatha 1,300 | |
Mechi 1,000 | |
Rapti 300 | |
Seti 100 | |
Mahakali 100 | |
Gandaki 50 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
95.46 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
4.54 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest Nepal census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Bhojpuri (4,400 speakers) | |||||||||
Language Code | bho Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||
Total Languages | 8 | |||||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Bhojpuri (4,400 speakers) |
Language Code | bho Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 8 |
Secondary Languages | |
Marwari (India) 3,800 | |
Awadhi 3,700 | |
Maithili 3,500 | |
Hindi 2,800 | |
Sindhi 200 | |
Nepali 60 | |
Magahi 50 | |
People Groups | Speaking Bhojpuri |
Primary Language: Bhojpuri
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1911-1982) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1998-2007) |
Bible-Complete | No |
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 |
Photo Source | Anonymous |
Map Source | People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |