Vanika
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- Bania redirects here. For Russian sauna, see Banya (sauna).
According to the Indian caste system, Vanika (Sanskrit) or Bania (Hindi) is a trader or merchant belonging to the business class.
Large trading communities in India include:
- Agrawals of Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab
- Guptas, related to Agarwals
- Oswals of Rajastan, Punjab & Gujarat
Some other traditional trading communities include:
- Rauniyars of Nepal ,UP, Bihar & West Bengal
- Barnwals of UP, Bihar & West Bengal
- Chetti from Tamil Nadu
- Gahoi of UP
- Gandha-vanika of Bengal
- Komti of Andhra
- Maheshwari of Rajasthan
- Pancham of Maharashtra, Karnataka
- Parwars of Madhya Pradesh
- Vaishnav of Gujarat
- Rauniars of Nepal ,UP, Bihar & West Bengal
- Agrahari of haryana, Delhi, UP, Bihar and madhya Pradesh
They are sometimes referred to as Vaishya.