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

The name "Bania" is derived from Vaniji, which means "trader" in Sanskrit, an ancient South Asian language. The Agrahari are a sub-group of the Bania peoples who live in India and Nepal. 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.
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.


What Are Their Lives Like?

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.
Agrahari 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 “winning” in money transactions. Fathers pass business skills to their sons. Agrahari Bania parents strongly encourage their children to obtain graduate degrees related to business.
Monogamy or marriage to one spouse is the norm among Bania groups.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Agrahari 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.


What Are Their Needs?

Any efforts to bring the message of Jesus to the Agraharis must remain sensitive to their history. It is not enough to be sensitive to Hindu culture. The evangelist must respect the differences between groups like the Agrahari Banias and those with less wealth and status. One cannot expect someone from a business community to respond to the same thing as someone who is a farm worker, for example.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Holy Spirit will win some from the Agrahari Banias to worship the Prince of Peace.
Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send believers from the Agrahari group to reap souls from other Bania groups.
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:   Joshua Project  

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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Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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