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.
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.
Scripture Prayers for the Bania unspecified in Nepal.
Profile Source: India Missions Association - Edited by Philipose Vaidyar Copyrighted © Used with permission |
Bania profile for Children and Family Missions Activities |
People Name General | Bania |
People Name in Country | Bania unspecified |
Pronunciation |
BAHN-yah
|
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 |
Population this Country | 126,000 |
Population all Countries | 17,252,000 |
Total Countries | 6 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 3 |
People ID | 16318 |
ROP3 Code | 111452 |
Country | Nepal | |||||||||||||||
Region | Asia, South | |||||||||||||||
Continent | Asia | |||||||||||||||
10/40 Window | Yes | |||||||||||||||
National Bible Society | Website | |||||||||||||||
Persecution Rank | Not ranked | |||||||||||||||
Location in Country | Mechi and Narayani zones. Some in Kathmandu. Source: www.ethnologue.com | |||||||||||||||
Total States on file | 14 | |||||||||||||||
Largest States |
|
Country | Nepal |
Region | Asia, South |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Location in Country | Mechi and Narayani zones. Some in Kathmandu.. Source: www.ethnologue.com |
Total States | 14 |
Narayani 31,000 | |
Lumbini 30,000 | |
Janakpur 27,000 | |
Sagarmatha 23,000 | |
Kosi 13,000 | |
Bheri 6,100 | |
Bagmati 5,900 | |
Mechi 3,900 | |
Mahakali 1,500 | |
Gandaki 1,000 | |
Seti 700 | |
Rapti 700 | |
Dhaulagiri 40 | |
Karnali 10 | |
Website | South Asia Peoples |
Primary Religion: | Hinduism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent * |
---|---|
Buddhism |
0.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
0.00 %
|
Hinduism |
97.81 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
2.19 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
* From latest Nepal census data. Current Christian values may substantially differ. |
Primary Language | Maithili (69,000 speakers) | ||||||||||||
Language Code | mai Ethnologue Listing | ||||||||||||
Language Written | Yes ScriptSource Listing | ||||||||||||
Total Languages | 13 | ||||||||||||
Secondary Languages |
|
Primary Language | Maithili (69,000 speakers) |
Language Code | mai Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 13 |
Secondary Languages | |
Bhojpuri 29,000 | |
Awadhi 16,000 | |
Marwari 13,000 | |
Hindi 11,000 | |
Nepali 1,600 | |
Angika 400 | |
Sindhi 300 | |
Haryanvi 200 | |
English 200 | |
Bengali 100 | |
Kumaoni 100 | |
Magahi 60 | |
People Groups | Speaking Maithili |
Primary Language: Maithili
Bible Translation ▲ | Status (Years) |
---|---|
Bible-Portions | Yes |
Bible-New Testament | Yes (2010) |
Bible-Complete | No |
Bible-NT Audio | Online |
Possible Print Bibles | |
---|---|
Amazon | |
World Bibles | |
Forum Bible Agencies | |
National Bible Societies | |
World Bible Finder | |
Virtual Storehouse |
Photo Source | Anonymous |
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. Learn more. |