Hindu Vanika Vyshya Matrimonial Site

Hindu Vanika Vyshya Matrimony

Hindu Vanika Vyshya Marriage Site

This community of oil extractors is known by different names in different States in India. They are known as Gandla, in A.P; Ganiga in Karnataka, as Vaniya Chettiar or Vanika vaisya matrimony in TamilNadu and Kerala as Teli in Maharashtra and in North India. People of the community in small towns in these areas can still be found running Chekku(oil press); these are now mostly electric rather than bull driven. While some sections of the community have taken to education in the past couple of generations and made a mark as IT pros, entrepreneurs and business men with their traditional business acumen have been very successful others still find studies a difficult task (business mind being the regular excuse). The community has a large population in Kerala. In kerala the community is known in different names Vanian ,Vanika, Vanika Vaisya, Vaniya Chetty, etc. In Sanskrit literature of about 500 BC there is a specific reference to an oil-press, or Ghanis, chekku although it was never described (by Monier-Williams, M. 1899. All castes in Sudra varna were not considered as equals. Castes enjoyed different status and privileges in the society depending on their profession. The community were extracting oil from ground nut, gingley, castor seeds and also preparing ghee (oil with preservatives made by melting butter). They were not only extracting oil but also selling it. They were economically better compared to other castes like carpenters, barbers, washer men potters, etc. As producers and sellers of oil they enjoyed higher status in society.