Dhusar Bania in India

The Dhusar Bania have only been reported 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 of the Dhusar people group comes from a legend about a woman being troubled by the devil. As the story goes, the woman went to Brahma, the Hindu god of creation, to tell him about this problem. She wept as she spoke to him. As she wept, a river miraculously appeared, and Brahma named the river Vasudhara. The Dhusars derive their name from Vasudhara because they live along the banks of the Vasudhara River.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Members of the Bania caste are among the wealthiest people in India and even the world. Today they are still involved with businesses and money lending. A Bania might be the proud owner of a giant business, a small one, or he might be working in a bank. He often owns the bank. Others work in government ministries or as lawyers, judges, teachers, scholars, stockbrokers or engineers.

Dhusar Bania fathers teach their children business skills. From an early age children are drilled in math and detailed calculations with the end purpose of winning in money transactions. Bania parents often teach their children to "never give; always bargain and make money." This attitude does not make them popular with other communities. Other castes often resent them because they lend much needed money at high 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 their farms or their gold up for collateral in case they cannot pay back their loans.

Floor painting and folk songs are a major part of the Bania's art and culture.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Nearly all Bhatia Banias claim the Hindu religion, but as merchants they have chosen gods that reflect their profession. They worship the god of wealth, the god of good fortune and the god of money. The rupee (Indian currency) is sacred with the Bania, and this is an instance of the preservation of old coins for religious ceremonies. Ganesh (the god who helps overcome obstacles) and Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth) are among their favorites. They are many Vaishnavite and devotees of Shrinathji among the Hindu Banias. Some are Jains, a reform movement of Hinduism.


What Are Their Needs?

Banias need a spiritual transformation that will bring them to the point where they want to follow the ways of Jesus and abandon the old ways that leave them spiritually empty.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Dhusar Banias will see that the only true wealth are the spiritual riches gained through a loving relationship with Jesus Christ.

Pray that Christ's disciples will be called to work among them and share Christ in a culturally relevant way.

Pray for a disciple making movement to emerge among every Bania community, blessing them for eternity.

Pray for the Lord to give Dhusar Bania leaders dreams and visions that will draw them to the King of kings.


Scripture Prayers for the Bania Dhusar in India.


References

India Missions Association, Edited by Philipose Vaidyar, Copyrighted © Used with permission

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bania_(caste)

http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/LIA5OcknCv3zQw2hJi0GDN/The-peculiar-pedigree-of-the-business-class.htm


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Bania Dhusar
People Name in Country Bania Dhusar
Natural Name Dhusar Bania
Alternate Names Bhargava; Dhusar; Dhusar Banias; Dusar; बनिया, धूसर
Population this Country 238,000
Population all Countries 238,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 2  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 5
People ID 19696
ROP3 Code 115148
ROP25 Code 301137
ROP25 Name Bhargawa
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 9
Largest States
Uttar Pradesh
172,000
Rajasthan
28,000
Gujarat
8,900
Haryana
8,500
Maharashtra
8,000
Madhya Pradesh
7,800
Delhi
3,800
Uttarakhand
1,500
Chhattisgarh
500
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 9
  Uttar Pradesh 172,000
  Rajasthan 28,000
  Gujarat 8,900
  Haryana 8,500
  Maharashtra 8,000
  Madhya Pradesh 7,800
  Delhi 3,800
  Uttarakhand 1,500
  Chhattisgarh 500
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 (140,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 15
Secondary Languages
Kanauji
21,000
Awadhi
9,000
Marwari
8,300
Gujarati
8,100
Dhundari
4,600
Marathi
3,700
Bundeli
1,800
Mewari
1,500
Bhojpuri
1,100
Shekhawati
1,100
Haryanvi
500
Braj Bhasha
200
Chhattisgarhi
90
Kumaoni
50
Primary Language Hindi (140,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 15
Secondary Languages
  Kanauji 21,000
  Awadhi 9,000
  Marwari 8,300
  Gujarati 8,100
  Dhundari 4,600
  Marathi 3,700
  Bundeli 1,800
  Mewari 1,500
  Bhojpuri 1,100
  Shekhawati 1,100
  Haryanvi 500
  Braj Bhasha 200
  Chhattisgarhi 90
  Kumaoni 50
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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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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