Kandu
The Kandu or Kanu are a Hindu caste in India, Bangladesh and Nepal They traditionally provided grain merchant s and are one of the Bania castes in the Vaishya varna. In India and eastern zone the caste often use Maddhesia or Gupta as a surname.[1] In Nepal, the caste is known as Kanu (Template:Lang-ne), 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](Birgunj)] 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 selling [3] 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.[4]
People in Uttar Pradesh
In Gorakhpur,Kushinagar,Maharajganj,,Deoria,Ayodhya,Varanasi. aprox 2100000 (survey Report) population.
Association
- Rastriya kanu vikash parisad
- Shree ganinath sewashram palwaiya
( WWW.babaganinathdham.org )
References
- ^ Gopal, Jha and Singh, loc. cit.
- ^ Gopal, Jha and Singh, loc. cit.
- ^ "The Liberation Struggle of Bihar".
- ^ Gopal, Jha and Singh, loc. cit.