Kandu

The Kandu or Kanu (Konkani: कानु) are a Hindu Bania caste in India, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. They traditionally provided Sweets and are one of the Bania castes in the Vaishya varna. In India and eastern zone the caste often use Gupta, Prasad, Seth, Shaw, Sahoo or Sah as a surname.[1] In Nepal, the caste is known as Kanu/Haluwai (Nepali: कानु), 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: Maghaiya, Bantaria, Kaanyakubja, Gour, Koranch, Dhuria, Rawani, Ballamitra, and Thathera (distinct from the Thathera caste).[1] 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.[2] Now they are mainly traders, village shop keepers and money lenders in villages. Urban Kandu follow various other occupations.[1]

People in Uttar Pradesh

In Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Deoria, Ayodhya, and Varanasi approx. 210000 (survey report) population.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Gopal, Jha and Singh, loc. cit.
  2. ↑ "The Liberation Struggle of Bihar".
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