The Vania people are also called Bania or Mahajan. The word Vania is derived from 'Vaniji', which means 'trader' in Sanskrit. The Vania community has gotras (clans) such as Agarwal, Dasora, Dishawal, Kapol, Nagori, Vagada, Modh and Nagar.
Many of these names are based on the names of the place they are from. The Agrawal, though they are settled mainly in North Gujarat, take their name from Agar Town. The Jharola live in eastern Gujarat and come from Jalor of Rajashthan and Maharashtra. The titles used by the Vania are Shah, Shroff, Parikkh, Chokshi, Seth and Gandhi.
The Vania community consists of two religious divisions, namely Vaishnava and Jain. Most of the groups of Vania are split into Visha meaning twenty and Dasha or ten. These subdivisions are further divided into Ekda and Bagda. The Bagda mostly live in villages, while Ekda live in villages and towns. They have an organization called the Mandal to look after the temples and the community's property.
Business, trade, jewellery-making and agriculture are the traditional occupations of the Vania. Floor painting and folk songs represent the Vania's art and culture. The naming of the newborn ritual is performed by a Jangam priest by putting a thread around the infant's neck.
The Vania are Hindu by religion. They are Vaishnavite and devotees of Shrinathji. A section of them are from the Jain community. The Vania maintain intercommunity linkages with the Brahmin, Valand, Soni and other communities through trade and service. The Vania in the state of Maharashtra are mostly followers of the Lingayat religion.
* Scripture Prayers for the Bania in India.
* For the salvation of the Vania people and that God may send several Christian workers among them and meet their spiritual and physical needs.
* Pray for developmental and literacy programs among the people.
Profile Source: India Missions Association - Edited by Philipose Vaidyar Copyrighted © Used with permission |
People Name General | Bania |
People Name in Country | Bania |
Pronunciation | BAHN-yuh |
Population this Country | 29,120,000 |
Population all Countries | 29,335,000 |
Total Countries | 6 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 3 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 582 |
Alternate Names | Aggarwal; Agrawal; Arayia Vaisya; Arya Vaisya; Arya Vysya; Balija; Bandekara; Banikya; Baniya; Baniyan; Baqal; Bhatia; Chetti; Chettiar; Gomatulu; Gujarati Vania; Gupta; Jain; Komati; Komti; Komuti; Kongu; Kshatriya; Kumti; Kumuti; Lalaji; Mahajan; Mahajan Vania; Marwadi; Mathura; Padayachi; Rajput; Sahukar; Sarak; Shetti; Shetty; Vaishya; Vaisiyal Chettiar; Vaisya; Vani; Vani Bania; Vania; Vysy; Vysya; बनिया |
People ID | 16318 |
ROP3 Code | 111452 |
Country | India | |||||||||||||||
Region | Asia, South | |||||||||||||||
Continent | Asia | |||||||||||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | |||||||||||||||
National Bible Society | Website | |||||||||||||||
Persecution Rank | 10 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) | |||||||||||||||
Total States on file | 36 | |||||||||||||||
Largest States (only 15 largest shown) |
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Specialized Website | South Asia Peoples |
Country | India |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | 10 (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking) |
Total States | 36 (only 20 largest shown) |
Uttar Pradesh 4,999,000 | |
Rajasthan 4,933,000 | |
Maharashtra 3,655,000 | |
Gujarat 2,650,000 | |
Andhra Pradesh 2,082,000 | |
Madhya Pradesh 1,996,000 | |
West Bengal 1,318,000 | |
Assam 1,049,000 | |
Telangana 1,032,000 | |
Bihar 815,000 | |
Haryana 805,000 | |
Tamil Nadu 737,000 | |
Karnataka 654,000 | |
Delhi 601,000 | |
Punjab 369,000 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Language | Hindi (12,376,000 speakers) | |||||||||||||||
Language Code | hin Ethnologue Listing | |||||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | |||||||||||||||
Total Languages | 56 | |||||||||||||||
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) |
|
Primary Language | Hindi (12,376,000 speakers) |
Language Code | hin Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 56 |
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown) | |
Telugu 2,946,000 | |
Gujarati 2,520,000 | |
Marwari 2,388,000 | |
Marathi 1,684,000 | |
Bengali 1,056,000 | |
Sindhi 938,000 | |
Dhundari 727,000 | |
Tamil 655,000 | |
Kannada 573,000 | |
Bhojpuri 506,000 | |
Assamese 368,000 | |
Shekhawati 274,000 | |
Konkani 257,000 | |
Awadhi 220,000 | |
Mewari 212,000 | |
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 (1835-2012) |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Bible-NT Text | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
Audio Recordings | Audio Bible teaching (GRN) |
Audio Recordings | Online New Testament (FCBH) |
Audio Recordings | Online Scripture (Talking Bibles) |
Audio Recordings | Oral Bible stories in Hindi |
Audio Recordings | Story of Jesus audio (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | A Beautiful Hope (EngSub) |
Film / Video | Coconuts |
Film / Video | Creation to Christ |
Film / Video | Father's Love Letter |
Film / Video | Following Jesus (India, JF Project) |
Film / Video | God's Story Video |
Film / Video | Indigitube.tv Video / Animation |
Film / Video | Jesus Film: view in Hindi |
Film / Video | Magdalena (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | My Last Day (Jesus Film Project Anime) |
Film / Video | Rivka (Jesus Film Project) |
Film / Video | Story of Jesus for Children (JF Project) |
Film / Video | The Hope Video |
General | Bible Visuals |
General | Four Spiritual Laws |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical Unknown) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
88.99 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
11.01 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest India census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Photo Source |
(Representative photo) Joshua Project |
Map Source | People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project |
Profile Source | India Missions Association - Edited by Philipose Vaidyar Copyrighted © Used with permission |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Read more |