Lad Bania in India


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

The Banias originated over 5,000 years ago in Gujarat and Rajasthan, and they are also called Vania or Mahajan. Their name is derived from Vaniji, which means "trader" in Sanskrit, an ancient South Asian language.

Of the four major varnas (caste clusters), Banias are in the third one, the Vaishyas. This caste cluster has always been about trade, business and money lending. Throughout history they were traders of grain and spices.

Despite their high incomes, the Banias have only modest status in the Hindu caste pyramid. They resent the higher two varnas, the Brahmins and the Kshatriyas, and thus Banias have often been leaders in caste reform movements. Mahatma Gandhi is one example, but there have been many others throughout India's long history.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Members of the Bania caste are among the wealthiest people in India and even the world. Today 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 often owns the bank. Others work in government ministries or as lawyers, judges, teachers, scholars, stockbrokers or engineers.

Lad Bania fathers teach their children business skills. From an early age children are drilled in math and detailed calculations with the end purpose of winning in money transactions. Bania parents often teach their children to "never give; always bargain and make money." This attitude can make them unpopular with other communities. Other castes often resent them because they lend much needed money at high 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 their farms or their gold up for collateral in case they cannot pay back their loans.

Floor painting and folk songs are a major part of the Bania's art and culture.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Nearly all Lad Banias claim the Hindu religion, but as merchants they have chosen gods that reflect their profession. They worship the god of wealth, the god of good fortune and the god of money. The rupee (Indian currency) is sacred with the Bania, and they use old coins for religious ceremonies. Ganesh (the god who helps overcome obstacles) and Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth) are among their favorites. Many are devoted to Vishnu and Shrinathji. Some are Jains, a reform movement of Hinduism.


What Are Their Needs?

Banias need a spiritual transformation that will bring them to the point where they want to follow the ways of Jesus and abandon the old ways that leave them spiritually empty.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Lad Banias will see that the only true wealth are the spiritual riches gained through a loving relationship with Jesus Christ.

Pray that Christ's disciples will be called to work among them and share Christ in a culturally relevant way.

Pray for a disciple making movement to emerge among every Bania community, blessing them for eternity.

Pray for the Lord to give Lad Bania leaders dreams and visions that will draw them to the King of kings.


Scripture Prayers for the Bania Lad in India.


References

India Missions Association, Edited by Philipose Vaidyar, Copyrighted © Used with permission

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bania_(caste)

http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/LIA5OcknCv3zQw2hJi0GDN/The-peculiar-pedigree-of-the-business-class.htm


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Bania Lad
People Name in Country Bania Lad
Natural Name Lad Bania
Alternate Names Ambali; Khasie Lad; Koli Lad; Lad; Lad Bania; Lad Vania; Ladar; Ladia; Ladik; Ladik. Ladar; Ladsi; Ladsi Bunkar; Lajjhad; Theley Lad; Yellegar; बनिया, लड़
Population this Country 150,000
Population all Countries 150,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 3
PeopleID3 19708
ROP3 Code 115160
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 8
Largest States
Maharashtra
60,000
Gujarat
59,000
Rajasthan
13,000
Madhya Pradesh
11,000
Telangana
3,900
Delhi
2,100
Andhra Pradesh
300
Chhattisgarh
200
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 8
  Maharashtra 60,000
  Gujarat 59,000
  Rajasthan 13,000
  Madhya Pradesh 11,000
  Telangana 3,900
  Delhi 2,100
  Andhra Pradesh 300
  Chhattisgarh 200
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
96.11 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
3.89 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Gujarati (63,000 speakers)
Language Code guj   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 13
Secondary Languages
Hindi
35,000
Marathi
14,000
Konkani
5,000
Khandesi
4,600
Telugu
2,700
Marwari (India)
2,400
Wagdi
2,200
Ahirani
1,400
Dhundari
1,200
Mewari
600
Nimadi
300
Bundeli
70
Primary Language Gujarati (63,000 speakers)
Language Code guj   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 13
Secondary Languages
  Hindi 35,000
  Marathi 14,000
  Konkani 5,000
  Khandesi 4,600
  Telugu 2,700
  Marwari (India) 2,400
  Wagdi 2,200
  Ahirani 1,400
  Dhundari 1,200
  Mewari 600
  Nimadi 300
  Bundeli 70
People Groups Speaking Gujarati

Primary Language:  Gujarati

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Bible-New Testament Yes  (1820-1985)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1823-2021)
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Photo Source (Representative photo)
Copyrighted © 2024  Isudas  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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