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According to the Indian caste system, Vanika (Sanskrit) or Bania (Hindi, Punjabi and other Indian languages) is a trader or merchant belonging to the business class. Baniyas of Rajasthan are called Marwaris.
Traditional Bania communities in India include:
- Jaiswals kalwars of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
- Choudharys of Bihar
- Agarwals of Rajasthan, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab
- Oswals of Rajasthan, Punjab & Gujarat
- Guptas (subset of Agarwal community) of Rajasthan, Punjab, U.P., Haryana and Delhi
- Maheshwari of Rajasthan
- Jains of North India (Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh) and Gujarat.
- Shaws,sahu's and Keshris of Eastern UP and Bihar/Jharkhand.
- Varshneys (Barahseni) of Braj
- Rauniyars of Nepal ,UP, Bihar & West Bengal
- Barnwals of UP, Bihar & West Bengal
- Rastogis of UP
- Chettis from Tamil Nadu
- Gahoi of UP/MP
- Suvarna-vanika of West Bengal [gold dealer]
- Gandha-vanika of West Bengal [spices and perfume dealer]
- Sankha-vanika of West Bengal [dealer of ornaments made from sea-shell]
- Kangsha_vanika of West Bengal [dealer of utensils made of brass]
- Arya Vysyas of Andhra
- Patwa from Rajasthan and UP
- Pancham of Maharashtra, Karnataka
- Parwars of Madhya Pradesh
- Vaishnav of Gujarat
- Vani/Vaishya of Goa
- Rauniars of Nepal ,UP, Bihar & West Bengal
- Rastogi of UP
They are sometimes referred to as Vaishya.
The banyan group of fig trees was named after this group as early foreign travelers noted that banias could often be found in the shade of these trees.
See also
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