Omar (Vaishya)
Encyclopedia
The Omar is an Indian Bania
caste
, found among mainly in Central Uttar Pradesh
(Kanpur region), Magadh, Awadh
and Purvanchal
. They claim to have originated from Ayodhia, and then spread to other parts of Awadh
, eventually settling in different parts of Uttar Pradesh
, Bihar
, and Jharkhand
. Some theories and ancient texts suggest that the name 'OMAR' has been derived from OM
which is a sacred/mystical syllable in the Dharmic or Indian religions, i.e. Hinduism
, Jainism
, Buddhism
, and Sikhism
.
The Omar is known as Umar in different parts of Bihar
and Jharkhand
. They use "Omar" and "Gupta" as surname. A majority lives in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
& Badshahpur; and in Deoghar
district of Jharkhand
; Jamui, Sahibganj, Siwan, Saran, and Gopalganj
districts of Bihar
. The standard of living varies from lower-middle class to upper- middle class.
The Omar have three sub-divisions, the Til Omar, Derh Omar and Dusra. Historically, the Omar were mainly shopkeepers, but many have now taken to other occupation. Their customs are similar to the Kasaundhan, another Bania community. A number of people from this caste has businesses as "Decorators for Functions/Festivals" in Deoghar, and many of them work for the government.
Bania (caste)
Bania is an occupational caste of bankers, money-lenders, dealers in grains, spices and in modern times numerous commercial enterprises. Baniya is a distinct caste mostly coming from Western India and Central India but spread now all over India...
caste
Caste
Caste is an elaborate and complex social system that combines elements of endogamy, occupation, culture, social class, tribal affiliation and political power. It should not be confused with race or social class, e.g. members of different castes in one society may belong to the same race, as in India...
, found among mainly in Central Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
(Kanpur region), Magadh, Awadh
Awadh
Awadh , also known in various British historical texts as Oudh or Oude derived from Ayodhya, is a region in the centre of the modern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, which was before independence known as the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh...
and Purvanchal
Purvanchal
Purvanchal is a geographic region of north-central India, which comprises the eastern end of Uttar Pradesh state...
. They claim to have originated from Ayodhia, and then spread to other parts of Awadh
Awadh
Awadh , also known in various British historical texts as Oudh or Oude derived from Ayodhya, is a region in the centre of the modern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, which was before independence known as the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh...
, eventually settling in different parts of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
, Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
, and Jharkhand
Jharkhand
Jharkhand is a state in eastern India. It was carved out of the southern part of Bihar on 15 November 2000. Jharkhand shares its border with the states of Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the west, Orissa to the south, and West Bengal to the east...
. Some theories and ancient texts suggest that the name 'OMAR' has been derived from OM
Om
Om is a sacred syllable of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.OM and similar may also refer to:-Music:* Om , a stoner metal band* Om , a 1965 album* OM , a 2006 album* Om...
which is a sacred/mystical syllable in the Dharmic or Indian religions, i.e. Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
, Jainism
Jainism
Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...
, Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
, and Sikhism
Sikhism
Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region, by Guru Nanak Dev and continued to progress with ten successive Sikh Gurus . It is the fifth-largest organized religion in the world and one of the fastest-growing...
.
The Omar is known as Umar in different parts of Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
and Jharkhand
Jharkhand
Jharkhand is a state in eastern India. It was carved out of the southern part of Bihar on 15 November 2000. Jharkhand shares its border with the states of Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the west, Orissa to the south, and West Bengal to the east...
. They use "Omar" and "Gupta" as surname. A majority lives in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
& Badshahpur; and in Deoghar
Deoghar
Deoghar is the headquarters city of Deoghar District in the Santhal Parganas division of the state of Jharkhand, India. It is an important Hindu pilgrimage centre, having in Baidyanath Temple one of the twelve Shiva Jyothirlingams in India and also one of the 51 Shakti Peethas in India.-Origin of...
district of Jharkhand
Jharkhand
Jharkhand is a state in eastern India. It was carved out of the southern part of Bihar on 15 November 2000. Jharkhand shares its border with the states of Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the west, Orissa to the south, and West Bengal to the east...
; Jamui, Sahibganj, Siwan, Saran, and Gopalganj
Gopalganj
Gopalganj may refer to:*Gopalganj District *Gopalganj, Bangladesh*Gopalganj District, India, is a district of the state of Bihar.*Gopalganj, Bihar, is a town and a municipality in and the headquarters of Gopalganj district in Bihar, India....
districts of Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
. The standard of living varies from lower-middle class to upper- middle class.
The Omar have three sub-divisions, the Til Omar, Derh Omar and Dusra. Historically, the Omar were mainly shopkeepers, but many have now taken to other occupation. Their customs are similar to the Kasaundhan, another Bania community. A number of people from this caste has businesses as "Decorators for Functions/Festivals" in Deoghar, and many of them work for the government.