"Bania" or "Baniya" is a Sanskrit word that means "trader." The Startup Journal, a secular Indian paper, reports they are experts in bookkeeping and trading. They have the business knowledge and a willingness to take financial risks. They are meticulous bookkeepers, and seldom miss opportunities to make money. They can splurge when necessary and can adapt to India's fast-changing circumstances. The Nema are a Bania subcaste. The origin of their name is obscure. Most of the Nema live in central India.
The Nema wear the sacred Hindu thread and apparently prohibit the remarriage of widows. The Nema are considered to be keen businessmen, and a saying about them is, "Where a sheep grazes or a Nema trades, what is there left for anybody else?" They have 14 clans, each named after an ancient prince.
They are mainly Hindus, with a small minority of Jains. Like other Bania communities, the Nema are concerned about their economic welfare, and they chose the gods to worship accordingly. For example, Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of prosperity, is among the favorite goddesses for Bania peoples like the Nema.
The Nema Banias need to put their trust in Jesus Christ rather than worldly wealth. The Nema need to see that only Jesus Christ can forgive their sins and give them a meaningful life.
Ask God to lead many Nema to investigate the claims of Christ. Pray for a disciple making movement among the Nema Banias this decade. Pray for the Lord to send out workers to the Nema Banias to tell them the good news.
Scripture Prayers for the Bania Nima in India.
Profile Source: Keith Carey |
Bania profile for Children and Family Missions Activities |
Global Prayer Digest: 2011-08-27 |
People Name General | Bania Nima |
People Name in Country | Bania Nima |
Natural Name | Nima Bania |
Alternate Names | Mahajan; Neema; Nema; Nema Jain; Nemavisa; बनिया, निमा |
Population this Country | 100,000 |
Population all Countries | 100,000 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 2 |
People ID | 19717 |
ROP3 Code | 115170 |
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 | 8 | |||||||||
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 | 8 |
Maharashtra 43,000 | |
Madhya Pradesh 21,000 | |
Gujarat 17,000 | |
Rajasthan 15,000 | |
Delhi 2,600 | |
Telangana 800 | |
Chhattisgarh 200 | |
Odisha 60 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Other / Small |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
41.78 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
58.22 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Hindi (31,000 speakers) | ||||||||||||
Language Code | hin Ethnologue Listing | ||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | ||||||||||||
Total Languages | 12 | ||||||||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Hindi (31,000 speakers) |
Language Code | hin Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 12 |
Secondary Languages | |
Marathi 21,000 | |
Gujarati 14,000 | |
Konkani 6,200 | |
Marwari 5,400 | |
Nimadi 2,700 | |
Dhundari 1,900 | |
Khandesi 800 | |
Malvi 500 | |
Mewari 200 | |
Kacchi 90 | |
Chhattisgarhi 40 | |
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 (1835-2022) |
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 |
Photo Source | Anonymous |
Map Source | People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project. |
Profile Source | Keith Carey |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |