Introduction / History

The Khadayatas are one of the Gujarati speaking Banias. Their original family is said to have stemmed from the village of Khadat. In the early part of the previous century, they organized themselves into a community that pooled their resources and strove for the betterment of their people. This included making scholarships available for poor students, building boarding facilities in large cities, and sometimes even taking care of the sick financially.

What Are Their Lives Like?

Members of the Khedayata Bania community are among the wealthiest people in India and Pakistan. They are still involved with businesses and money lending. A Bania might be the proud owner of a giant business, a small one, or he might be working in a bank. He might even own the bank. Other Banias work in government ministries or as lawyers, judges, teachers, scholars, stockbrokers or engineers.
Bania are often resented by other people because they lend much needed money at higher 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.
Fathers pass business skills to their sons. Khedayata 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. Khedayata 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 communities.

What Are Their Beliefs?

Khedayata Bania people in India practice Hinduism, the ancient religion of India. Hinduism is a catch-all phrase for the local religions of South Asia, so it is very diverse. At the popular level, Hindus worship and serve the gods of the Hindu pantheon. They visit Hindu temples and offer prayers, food, flowers, and incense to their gods in hopes of gaining protection and benefits. They do not have a personal or familial relationship with their gods like Christians or Jews. There are other Hindus who are much more philosophical, especially among the Brahmins.
Almost all Hindus participate in yearly celebrations like Holi, the festival of colors and the start of spring / Diwali, the festival of lights / Navratri, the celebration of autumn / and Rama Navami, Rama's birthday.

What Are Their Needs?

The Khedayata Bania of India need to understand that material wealth will not bring the peace of mind and purpose for living that can only come from Jesus Christ. Bania need to see that they are sinners before the holy God of the Bible and that they need a savior.

Prayer Points

Pray that the Khadayata Banias will encounter God such a real way they will give him their hearts.
Pray for the Lord to send the right people as his ambassadors to these wealthy Hindus.
Pray for the Lord to soon raise up Khadayata Banias who will embrace the only savior no matter what the cost.

Scripture Prayers for the Bania Khedayata in India.

References

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