Agarwal 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

A brilliant smile and dancing eyes told of a joy we only find in those who love the Lord Jesus. With a degree in library science, this man serves his seminary as head librarian. He told me to just call him Bansal.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Bansal is one of the more common names among the Agarwal people group. Bansal is one of a tiny minority of Agarwals who have come to Christ. Almost all Agarwals still consider themselves to be Hindu. Like most other Bania subgroups, they work as businessmen and traders. Some have risen to become very wealthy. One is chairman of Jet Airways with a net worth of $1.9 billion.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Sometimes wealthy people feel no need for God. Those who feel a need for God in a Hindu context are likely to try to fill it with Hindu rituals.
Agarwals have enough clout that they have sometimes been given the right to skirt India's laws. About 100 years ago a court case went all the way to the Indian Supreme Court that included the comment that Agarwals are known for their unwillingness to follow Hindu rules. Not much has changed. It is not that they have not heard of the gospel message. Rather, the Agarwals generally do not feel the need for Christ.


Prayer Points

Pray for Narendra. He has started a new church to reach his Agarwal people.
Pray that he and other Agarwal believers can demonstrate the love and character of Christ to their kinsmen.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will create a hunger in the hearts of prominent Agarwal businessmen.


Scripture Prayers for the Bania Agarwal in India.


References

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


Profile Source:   Global Prayer Digest  

Additional Info
Bania profile for Children and Family Missions Activities
Global Prayer Digest: 2010-10-15
Global Prayer Digest: 2011-08-04
Global Prayer Digest: 2012-09-23
Global Prayer Digest: 2014-09-08
Global Prayer Digest: 2017-09-17
Global Prayer Digest: 2018-09-18
Global Prayer Digest: 2020-04-30
Global Prayer Digest: 2020-09-29
People Name General Bania Agarwal
People Name in Country Bania Agarwal
Natural Name Agarwal Bania
Pronunciation AG-ur-wahl BAHN-yah
Alternate Names Agarwal; Aggarwal; Agrabalia; Arya; Arya Vysya; Bania; Chetti; Gupta; Jain; Komati; Marwadi; Vaisya Agarwal; Vysya; बनिया, अ‍ॅगर्वल
Population this Country 5,822,000
Population all Countries 5,847,000
Total Countries 4
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 116
People ID 19688
ROP3 Code 115140
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 34
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Rajasthan
1,328,000
Uttar Pradesh
1,191,000
Gujarat
453,000
Madhya Pradesh
437,000
Maharashtra
382,000
Andhra Pradesh
357,000
Delhi
339,000
West Bengal
264,000
Telangana
186,000
Haryana
185,000
Assam
171,000
Punjab
84,000
Bihar
58,000
Uttarakhand
56,000
Chhattisgarh
46,000
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 34  (only 20 largest shown)
  Rajasthan 1,328,000
  Uttar Pradesh 1,191,000
  Gujarat 453,000
  Madhya Pradesh 437,000
  Maharashtra 382,000
  Andhra Pradesh 357,000
  Delhi 339,000
  West Bengal 264,000
  Telangana 186,000
  Haryana 185,000
  Assam 171,000
  Punjab 84,000
  Bihar 58,000
  Uttarakhand 56,000
  Chhattisgarh 46,000
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
88.35 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
11.65 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Hindi (2,603,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 46
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Marwari
652,000
Gujarati
294,000
Telugu
274,000
Sindhi
193,000
Dhundari
146,000
Marathi
125,000
Bengali
106,000
Shekhawati
66,000
Assamese
55,000
Mewari
48,000
Bhojpuri
47,000
Awadhi
36,000
Kanauji
35,000
Bagri
25,000
Punjabi, Eastern
20,000
Primary Language Hindi (2,603,000 speakers)
Language Code hin   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 46
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Marwari 652,000
  Gujarati 294,000
  Telugu 274,000
  Sindhi 193,000
  Dhundari 146,000
  Marathi 125,000
  Bengali 106,000
  Shekhawati 66,000
  Assamese 55,000
  Mewari 48,000
  Bhojpuri 47,000
  Awadhi 36,000
  Kanauji 35,000
  Bagri 25,000
  Punjabi, Eastern 20,000
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  (1818-2022)
Bible-NT Audio 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 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 for Children Bible for Children
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text, audio, video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text, audio, video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text, audio, video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text, audio, video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text, audio, video Faith Comes by Hearing
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group Location: Omid. Other geography / data: GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project  
Profile Source Global Prayer Digest 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.