The overhead fan hummed softly and the aroma of spiced chai hung in the air as Indian mission leaders Jawahar and Pradeep discussed how to reach some of India's most unreached people groups. Jawahar asked, "How do we locate the Nagar Bania people?" Pradeep replied, "Go to Gujarat state where some 32,000 Nagar Banias reside.

Out of the 57,000 Nagar population in all of India, Gujarat has the largest concentration of this people group. You are most likely to meet some of them in Ahmedabad, Gujarat's largest city."

Working as moneylenders or merchants, Nagar Banias can also be found (although in lesser numbers) in India's states of Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, and Goa.

Nagar means "settlement." The Nagar Banias look to Hinduism for their spiritual answers.

* Scripture Prayers for the Bania Nagar in India.

* Pray that they may find their "settlement" in God's eternal home.
* Ask the Lord of the harvest to visit the leaders of Nagar households and villages, as well as their spiritual leaders with His truth in a way they can understand.
* Ask God to anoint those working with the Nagars with wisdom and insight and with the love of Jesus.

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