Gandha Banik 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 Bania Gandha Banik are called the "businessmen of northeast India". Their chief occupation is trade. They were originally sellers of spices, incense and perfume.

Today the Gandha Banik are known for selling almost anything except alcohol. Some of them are informal pharmacists for traditional Indian medicine. When an Indian gets ill, he or she will frequently go to a shop owned by a Gandha Banik for a herbal potion designed to heal the health issue.

Some Gandha Banik are classified in the Vaishya or merchant caste of Hinduism. Others are seen as being in the fourth laboring caste.

The primary language of the Gandha Banik is Bengali. Many also speak English and Hindi.


Where Are they Located?

The vast majority of the Gandha Banik live in the Indian state of West Bengal.


What Are Their Lives Like?

The lives of the Gandha Banik vary depending on their income. Some are very wealthy business owners while others run small grocery stores in villages.

The Gandha Banik generally marry within their own community. They have an unusual wedding ceremony in which the groom climbs a tree or log and the bride is carried around the tree seven times. The Gandha Banik practice adult marriages arranged by the families of the bride and groom. Their dead are cremated. The Gandha Banik are not vegetarians but as Hindus they will not eat beef.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Gandha Banik practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. They worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. They give special attention to Vishnu, the preserver god, and his avatars of Rama and Krishna. Hindus believe that by performing rituals and good works that they will attain moksha or freedom from the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The Gandha Banik visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers and incense to their gods. There are many forms of Hinduism, each with its own deities and beliefs.

The main yearly holidays of the Gandha Banik people are Holi, the festival of colors, Diwali, the festival of lights, Navratri, the celebration of autumn and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.


What Are Their Needs?

The Gandha Banik need to hear the life-changing message of Jesus Christ in a way they can understand. They need to see Christianity lived out before them in practical ways. There may be no believers among the Gandha Banik at the present time.


Prayer Points

Pray that God sends laborers to the Gandha Banik to live among them and tell them about Jesus.
Pray the Lord will start a movement of Gandha Banik families experiencing God's blessings.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to give the Gandha Banik people a love for God's Word and a desire to spread its influence.


Scripture Prayers for the Bania Gandha Banik in India.


References

http://indpaedia.com/ind/index.php/Gandha_Banik
http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Banik


Profile Source:   David Kugel  

People Name General Bania Gandha Banik
People Name in Country Bania Gandha Banik
Natural Name Gandha Banik Bania
Pronunciation gahnd-HA BA-nik BAHN-yah
Alternate Names Aut Asram; Bania; Chhatri Asram; Desa Asram; Gandha Banik; Gandhabania; Gandhabanik; Putali; Putali Bene; Putuli Bene; Sankha Asram; बनिया, गंधा बनिक
Population this Country 349,000
Population all Countries 353,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 2  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 7
People ID 19698
ROP3 Code 115150
ROP25 Code 302550
ROP25 Name Gandhabanik
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
West Bengal
294,000
Assam
25,000
Jharkhand
13,000
Odisha
11,000
Bihar
4,300
Tripura
1,600
Andaman and Nicobar
800
Meghalaya
50
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
  West Bengal 294,000
  Assam 25,000
  Jharkhand 13,000
  Odisha 11,000
  Bihar 4,300
  Tripura 1,600
  Andaman and Nicobar 800
  Meghalaya 50
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 Bengali (239,000 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
Hindi
36,000
Assamese
12,000
Odia
7,500
Maithili
500
Primary Language Bengali (239,000 speakers)
Language Code ben   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 5
Secondary Languages
  Hindi 36,000
  Assamese 12,000
  Odia 7,500
  Maithili 500
People Groups Speaking Bengali

Primary Language:  Bengali

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1800-1980)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1801-1984)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1809-2022)
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
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Online Audio Scripture Talking Bibles
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Following Jesus video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Love Story General / Other
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Bengali Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Rivka video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
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General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Nydegger René - Pixabay 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source David Kugel 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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