The overhead fan hummed softly and the aroma of spiced chai hung in the air as Indian mission leaders Jawahar and Pradeep discussed how to reach some of India's most unreached people groups. Jawahar asked, "How do we locate the Nagar Bania people?" Pradeep replied, "Go to Gujarat state where some 32,000 Nagar Banias reside.
Out of the 57,000 Nagar population in all of India, Gujarat has the largest concentration of this people group. You are most likely to meet some of them in Ahmedabad, Gujarat's largest city."
Working as moneylenders or merchants, Nagar Banias can also be found (although in lesser numbers) in India's states of Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, and Goa.
Nagar means "settlement." The Nagar Banias look to Hinduism for their spiritual answers.
Pray that they may find their "settlement" in God's eternal home.
Ask the Lord of the harvest to visit the leaders of Nagar households and villages, as well as their spiritual leaders with His truth in a way they can understand.
Ask God to anoint those working with the Nagars with wisdom and insight and with the love of Jesus.
Scripture Prayers for the Bania Nagar in India.
Some information from "The Scheduled Castes" K. S. Singh, ed. Oxford University Press, USA (1994)
Profile Source: Global Prayer Digest |
Bania profile for Children and Family Missions Activities |
Global Prayer Digest: 2011-08-26 |
People Name General | Bania Nagar |
People Name in Country | Bania Nagar |
Natural Name | Nagar Bania |
Alternate Names | Nagda; बनिया, नगर |
Population this Country | 50,000 |
Population all Countries | 50,000 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 19716 |
ROP3 Code | 115169 |
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 | 6 | ||||||
Largest States |
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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 | 6 |
Gujarat 36,000 | |
Maharashtra 8,800 | |
Rajasthan 3,100 | |
Madhya Pradesh 900 | |
Delhi 700 | |
Andhra Pradesh 30 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
99.83 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.17 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Gujarati (37,000 speakers) | ||||||
Language Code | guj Ethnologue Listing | ||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | ||||||
Total Languages | 7 | ||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Gujarati (37,000 speakers) |
Language Code | guj Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 7 |
Secondary Languages | |
Hindi 3,200 | |
Dhundari 900 | |
Marwari 900 | |
Marathi 300 | |
Mewari 200 | |
Shekhawati 50 | |
People Groups | Speaking Gujarati |
Primary Language: Gujarati
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes (1809-1965) |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (1820-1985) |
Bible-Complete | Yes (1823-2021) |
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 |
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. |