PROUD TO BE VANJARI

Thane Vanjaries are settled in 24 Villages in Thane District Viz. Bandhan, Boisar, Dapoli, Dedale, Dhuktan, Eklare, Gundavali, Kalovlee, Kambalgao, Kolgaon, Kolwade, Kondan, Kumbhavali, Kurgaon, Manor-Ambhan, Maswan, Morekuran, Murabe, Pam, Parnali, Patharali, Tembhi, Uparale, Vengani.
Our surnames are like Sankhe,Pimple,Patil,Vade,Bore.

Derivation:
There are several possible sources for the term Vanjari or Vanjara. It may be the corrupt form of "Vanaskara" i.e. roaming in forest, or perhaps from the Sanskrit term "Vanja" (trader, merchant) which is also responsible for the term Bania and Banijiga (meaning trader). Vanjara may be derived from the Persian word "Berinj Arind", means "dealers in rice" (Shakespear's Dictionary). Caran or Cháran also comes from the same root. Vanjara means burners or the inhabitants of woods, while yet others say that the word means an arrow. The true derivation is perhaps from the Sanskrit term "Vanja" (trader, merchant) which is also responsible for the term Bania and Banijiga (meaning trader). There are many sub-types within the Vanjari caste which were distinguished on the basis of the main family members of the top hierarchy of these caste.

Occupation:
The caste's business was to load bullocks with rice/wheat/dry fish and go from place to place to sell it. They went down to Ghats, and to the Konkan districts. Once they used to carry their wares to Surat, Navsariand Kalyan in the west and Namad, Nagpur and Jabalpur in the Northeast, with their bullocks packed and in bands or armies of thousands. With the growth of their trade they began to earn good sum of money and then started settling in Maharashtra, Rajastan and Andhra. They purchased land with whatever money they had . Later on they worked very hard on their farm and became the mainstream farmers in Maharashtra. Vanjari community in Thane and Nashik District is economically and socially advanced and has sound standing in cultural arena.Most of population of vanjari caste in maharashtra is in Thane,Beed,Satara,Sangali, Jalna, Aurangabad, Buldana, Akola and Ahmadnagar districts.
Vanjari from Thane District have taken considerble jump in litercy. Many enjoy good position in Government jobs,bssiness and private sector but found week politically.
Presntly they have associated under banner of Thane Zila Vanjari Samaj Hitwardhak Mandal and constructed Samaj Hall at Boisar. ( Kishor Sankhe Sabhagruha & Moreshwar Waman Patil Khule Sabhagruha )was inaugarated by Ex. Dy. Chief Minister Honouable Shri Gopinath Munde.
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