Oswal Bania in India

The Oswal Bania have only been reported in India
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

Of the four major varnas (caste clusters), Banias are in the third one, the Vaishyas. This caste cluster has always been about trade, business and money lending. Throughout history they were traders of grain and spices. Despite their high incomes, the Banias have only modest status in the Hindu caste pyramid. They resent the higher two varnas, the Brahmins and the Kshatriyas, and 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.
There are smaller groups of Banias, one of which is the Oswal Banias. They are mostly found in Rajasthan, Punjab, and other nearby areas of northern India.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Oswals are indispensable for the Indian economy and tend to fare well in business. They are the wealthy and very influential in business, industry, and society. The Oswals are known for commemorating their festivals with celebration, color and song.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Although most Oswals follow Jain religious teachings, some are more influenced by Hinduism. According to Jain teaching, it is considered a sin to take a life. As a result, they are strict vegetarians. Their goddess, Sachchika, is often their family deity. They have high morals, but they lack a relationship with the one true God.


What Are Their Needs?

They live all over India, but there are probably no Christ followers among the Oswal Bania people anywhere. They need contact with vibrant, loving Christ followers who can introduce them to the only savior.


Prayer Points

Pray for the Oswal people to hear about Jesus through evangelistic internet, radio and literature efforts.
Pray that God will send loving missionaries to this unreached people group.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to move throughout Oswal communities, showing them the way to the cross and the empty grave.


Scripture Prayers for the Bania Oswal in India.


References

Some information from “The Scheduled Castes” K. S. Singh, ed. Oxford University Press, USA (1994)


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Bania Oswal
People Name in Country Bania Oswal
Natural Name Oswal Bania
Pronunciation OSE-vahl BAHN-yah
Alternate Names Marwadi; Oswal Jain Bania; बनिया, ओसवाल
Population this Country 453,000
Population all Countries 453,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 9
PeopleID3 19718
ROP3 Code 115171
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 24
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Maharashtra
139,000
Gujarat
83,000
Madhya Pradesh
69,000
Rajasthan
64,000
West Bengal
17,000
Delhi
14,000
Uttar Pradesh
13,000
Assam
11,000
Tamil Nadu
8,800
Andhra Pradesh
7,400
Chhattisgarh
6,400
Punjab
3,100
Telangana
3,100
Karnataka
2,900
Haryana
2,800
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 24  (only 20 largest shown)
  Maharashtra 139,000
  Gujarat 83,000
  Madhya Pradesh 69,000
  Rajasthan 64,000
  West Bengal 17,000
  Delhi 14,000
  Uttar Pradesh 13,000
  Assam 11,000
  Tamil Nadu 8,800
  Andhra Pradesh 7,400
  Chhattisgarh 6,400
  Punjab 3,100
  Telangana 3,100
  Karnataka 2,900
  Haryana 2,800
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
32.37 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
67.63 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (157,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 26
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Gujarati
120,000
Marwari (India)
61,000
Marathi
33,000
Kacchi
9,300
Wagdi
7,700
Bengali
6,400
Telugu
5,000
Mewari
4,600
Dhundari
3,000
Bhojpuri
2,800
Chhattisgarhi
1,600
Konkani
1,600
Malvi
1,200
Shekhawati
900
Assamese
800
Primary Language Hindi (157,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 26
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Gujarati 120,000
  Marwari (India) 61,000
  Marathi 33,000
  Kacchi 9,300
  Wagdi 7,700
  Bengali 6,400
  Telugu 5,000
  Mewari 4,600
  Dhundari 3,000
  Bhojpuri 2,800
  Chhattisgarhi 1,600
  Konkani 1,600
  Malvi 1,200
  Shekhawati 900
  Assamese 800
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
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 DAVAR Partners recording, Old Testament DAVAR Partners International
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 Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Hindi Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
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 Rock International: King of Glory Rock International
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
Photo Source (Representative photo)
Copyrighted © 2024  Isudas  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
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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