The Vanjari is a community in India; they live spread throughout the country but have a sizeable population in the state of Maharashtra. They are also present in parts of Andhra Pradesh particularly in the districts of Telangana region. A Vanjari or a trader seems to be an occupational description, as it is etymologically identical with Vanijya which means trade or commerce. These tribes were in the past engaged in carrying grain and supplies for armies, before the time of cart-roads and railways.
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. They were mainly named Lad, Raojin and Lamhan.
