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.
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, especially the boys, to obtain graduate degrees related to business.
Monogamy or marriage to one spouse is the norm among Bania groups.
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.
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. One cannot expect someone from a business community to respond to the same thing as someone who is a farm worker, for example.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will win some from the Agrahari Banias and use them to spread the fame of the Lord of lords.
Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send believers from Bania groups to take Christ to others.
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 Nepal.
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 | 2,600 |
Population all Countries | 388,000 |
Total Countries | 2 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
People ID | 19689 |
ROP3 Code | 115141 |
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 | 2 | |||
Largest States |
|
Country | Nepal |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Total States | 2 |
Lumbini 1,900 | |
Narayani 800 | |
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 Nepal census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Bhojpuri (1,300 speakers) | |||
Language Code | bho Ethnologue Listing | |||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||
Total Languages | 4 | |||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Bhojpuri (1,300 speakers) |
Language Code | bho Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 4 |
Secondary Languages | |
Awadhi 800 | |
Maithili 100 | |
Hindi 90 | |
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 data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project. |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |