The Baniya consist of numerous distinct subdivisions in their communities depending on the place they are located. The merchant class of Gujarat also belongs to Baniya community includes two main divisions. The community occupationally belongs to merchants, bankers, moneylenders, dealers in grain and spices class. One forms the descendants from Vaishyas following Hindu religion known, as Vaishnav and the other are descendants of Vardhamansvami following Jain religion known as Shravaks.
Typically, Baniya marriage rituals are almost same as any Hindu religion showing slight difference to the community following Hindu and Jain religion. The social restriction on Baniya community is not only limited to caste or sub caste but affects groups of villages and towns. Typically, the wedding ceremony starts with Madav worshipping Ganpati followed by inviting family deity with the next ceremony preparing mandap or marriage booth. The women of both bride and groom go in procession accompanied with dholak and singing wedding songs to bring earthen pots to their home after performing a small puja. These pots are used in wedding ceremonies. The maternal uncle is the most important person from the bride’s family. The unique wedding ceremony begins where the bride’s mother takes seven circles around the groom holding curd in two earthen pots, which are later on crushed by the right foot of the groom. This ritual allows the groom to enter the venue. This is followed by usual wedding ceremony like Kanyadaan, Phera and Bidayi.
