Rastoogi people live in northern India, primarily Uttar Pradesh. They are among the Bania peoples, a business community. The name "Bania" is derived from Vaniji, which means "trader" in Sanskrit, an ancient South Asian language. The Rastaogi are a sub-group of the Bania peoples who live in India. 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. Mahatma Gandhi is one example, but there have been many others throughout India's long history.
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.
Rastaogi 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 end purpose of getting the upper hand in business transactions. Fathers pass business skills to their sons. Rastaogi 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.
This prominent caste traces its Hindu beliefs back to when they selected "Surya" the Hindu sun god as their clan deity. Surya is portrayed as a red man with three eyes and four arms, riding in a chariot. They worship him as the god of healing and fortune. His picture is in Rastoogi-owned shops and homes because they firmly believe he will bring them blessings.
With almost no known followers of Christ in Uttar Pradesh, the Rastoogi people need an influx of loving missionaries to tell them about Christ's glory. Pray that many Rastoogi people will come to know God's truth, life and ways.
Pray for the Lord to thrust out the right workers to the Rastoogi Bania community.
Pray that the Rastoogi people will soon get to hear the good news that Jesus Christ offers life to the full for all who surrender to him.
Pray for the Rastoogi Banias to have a Holy Spirit generated hunger for spiritual truth.
Scripture Prayers for the Bania Rastaogi in India.
Some information from “The Scheduled Castes” K. S. Singh, ed. Oxford University Press, USA (1994)
Profile Source: Joshua Project |
People Name General | Bania Rastaogi |
People Name in Country | Bania Rastaogi |
Natural Name | Rastaogi Bania |
Alternate Names | Rastaugi; बनिया, रस्त्गी |
Population this Country | 69,000 |
Population all Countries | 69,000 |
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 | 19720 |
ROP3 Code | 115173 |
ROP25 Code | 300836 |
ROP25 Name | Bania |
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 |
Uttar Pradesh 59,000 | |
Rajasthan 5,500 | |
Bihar 2,000 | |
Delhi 1,000 | |
Madhya Pradesh 900 | |
Uttarakhand 700 | |
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 (44,000 speakers) | |||||||||
Language Code | hin Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||
Total Languages | 8 | |||||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Hindi (44,000 speakers) |
Language Code | hin Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 8 |
Secondary Languages | |
Marwari (India) 6,300 | |
Awadhi 2,100 | |
Bhojpuri 2,100 | |
Kanauji 1,600 | |
Dhundari 1,300 | |
Garhwali 300 | |
Mewari 100 | |
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) |
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) | Online |
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
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Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Map Source | People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project |
Profile Source | Joshua Project |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more. |