Bania (Newar caste)

Banras (Banias), subdivision of Newars, Nepal
Itum Bahal, Kathmandu. The surrounding area is a traditional Bania neighborhood.

Newari Banias (Devanagari: बनिया) are a Bania caste from the Newar community of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. The name Bania is derived from the Sanskrit word vanijya (merchant); by preference, Bania (caste).

Banias belong to the Urāy group which includes Tuladhar, Kansakar, Tamrakar, Sthapit, Sindurakar, Selalik and other castes. They speak Nepal Bhasa as a mother tongue and follow Newar Buddhism.