Kandu
The Kandu or Kanu are a Hindu caste in India, Bangladesh and Nepal. They traditionally provided parched grains and are one of the Bania castes in the Vaishya varna. In Bihar, the caste often use Gupta as a surname.[1] In Nepal, the caste is known as Kanu (Nepali: कानू), and Kandu elsewhere. Saints from this community include Sant Paltu Prasad from Nagpurjalalpur (near Ayodhya), who composed the Bhajnavali (Book of Devotion.)
Origin
The caste has sub-castes Madhesia, Maghaiya, Bantaria, Kanaujia, Gour, Koranch, Dhuria, Rawani, Ballamitra, and Thathera (distinct from the Thathera caste). In Bihar state, Kandus are found in Samastipur, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Muzaffarpur Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Siwan, Gopalganj, Patna, Nalanda and Bhojpur districts.[2] In Nepal they are found in the Terai from Jhapa district in the southeast corner west to Banke as well as in Kathmandu.
Present circumstances
The community is endogamous but practices village and clan exogamy. They have abandoned their traditional occupation of grain parching. Now they are mainly traders, village shop keepers and money lenders in villages. Urban Kandu follow various other occupations. Their traditions are similar to other Banias in Bihar.[3]
People in Bihar
In Sheohar District of Bihar Jay Ram Sah is the chairman of kanu caste. aprox 143000 (survey Report) population in sheohar district.
Association
- Rastriya kanu vikash parisad
- Shree ganinath sewashram palwaiya
( WWW.babaganinathdham.org )