Srimali 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, 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. They were usually traders of grain and spices throughout history.

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.

Srimali is one of the Bania subgroups that speaks Gujarati and lives in the western regions of India.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Members of the Bania caste are among the wealthiest people in India and even the world. A Srimali 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. Others work in government ministries or as lawyers, judges, teachers, scholars, stockbrokers or engineers. They are often resented by other castes 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 on loans.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Nearly all Srimali 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. These are the gods who drive their lives, gods that leave them with empty hearts.


What Are Their Needs?

There are few if any Christians in their community and they live in a place where Hinduism is unchallenged. The Srimali Banias will need to hear the gospel from someone who also has a business background. Such people must be fully devoted to Christ.


Prayer Points

Pray that the veil of deception would be lifted from the eyes of the Srimali Banias and that they would see that the only true wealth is the spiritual riches gained through a loving relationship with Jesus Christ. Pray that Christ's disciples would be called to work among them and share Christ in a culturally relevant way. Pray loving Bania disciples to make more disciples.


Scripture Prayers for the Bania Srimali in India.


References

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


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Bania Srimali
People Name in Country Bania Srimali
Natural Name Srimali Bania
Pronunciation shree-MAH-lee BAHN-yah
Alternate Names Seth; Srimali Vaisya; बनिया, सृिमाली
Population this Country 407,000
Population all Countries 410,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 8
PeopleID3 19723
ROP3 Code 115176
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 16
Largest States
(only 15 largest shown)
Gujarat
268,000
Maharashtra
76,000
Rajasthan
31,000
Madhya Pradesh
19,000
Delhi
4,000
Uttar Pradesh
4,000
Tamil Nadu
1,000
Uttarakhand
700
Jharkhand
500
Odisha
500
Chhattisgarh
400
Daman and Diu
400
Karnataka
400
Dadra and Nagar Have
300
West Bengal
300
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 16
  Gujarat 268,000
  Maharashtra 76,000
  Rajasthan 31,000
  Madhya Pradesh 19,000
  Delhi 4,000
  Uttar Pradesh 4,000
  Tamil Nadu 1,000
  Uttarakhand 700
  Jharkhand 500
  Odisha 500
  Chhattisgarh 400
  Daman and Diu 400
  Karnataka 400
  Dadra and Nagar Have 300
  West Bengal 300
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Hinduism
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
58.33 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
41.67 %
Unknown
0.00 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Gujarati (228,000 speakers)
Language Code guj   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 18
Secondary Languages
(only 15 largest shown)
Hindi
71,000
Marathi
32,000
Marwari (India)
12,000
Wagdi
4,900
Konkani
4,700
Kacchi
1,900
Mewari
1,500
Dhundari
1,100
Nimadi
800
Bhojpuri
600
Malvi
500
Sourashtra
500
Shekhawati
300
Khandesi
200
Kanauji
90
Primary Language Gujarati (228,000 speakers)
Language Code guj   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 18
Secondary Languages (only 15 largest shown)
  Hindi 71,000
  Marathi 32,000
  Marwari (India) 12,000
  Wagdi 4,900
  Konkani 4,700
  Kacchi 1,900
  Mewari 1,500
  Dhundari 1,100
  Nimadi 800
  Bhojpuri 600
  Malvi 500
  Sourashtra 500
  Shekhawati 300
  Khandesi 200
  Kanauji 90
People Groups Speaking Gujarati

Primary Language:  Gujarati

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1809-1965)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1820-1985)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1823-2021)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) 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 Online Scripture / Bible General / Other
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
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 Gujarati Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Bible in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Bible in text or audio or video South Asia Bibles
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Cru
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General Voice of the Martyrs resources Voice of the Martyrs
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
General Zume Resources Zume Project
General Zume Training Zume Project
Mobile App Android Bible app direct APK download SIL
Mobile App Android Bible app: Gujarati YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible App: Gujarati Bible (ગુજરાતી બાઇબલ) Indian Revised Version (IRV) Operation Agape
Mobile App Android Bible app: Gujarati Study Bible Grace Ministries and Dusty Sandals
Mobile App Android Bible Radio app: Gujarati Bible Radio Shalom Design S2dio
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Gujarati YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App iOS Bible Radio App: Gujarati Bible Radio iOS Revive India
Text / Printed Matter Children and youth resources One Hope
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Gujarati Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Text / Printed Matter Topical Scripture booklets and Bible studies World Missionary Press
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.


Joshua Project logo    Terms of Use   Privacy Policy   Contact Us   Copyright © 2024