Why are the majority Gujarati’s Vegetarian?
The State took its name from the Gujara, the land of the Gujjars, who ruled the area during the 700’s and 800’s. Gujarat is one of the Agrarian states of India. Gujarat is also called the Land of the Legends.
I was born and Braught up in Gujarat. Vegetarianism was being evolved since we came in the world. we are huge in amount, we are social, we have our own communities. for the last 4 years, I lived in a country where Nov. Veg food is a primary need, I was being always asked by citizens about why you people don’t eat meat? and my answer was always,
“I am a Hindu.”
“I am a Gujarati.”
“I am vegetarian.”
“I don’t even eat egg.”
One of the Delicious Veg. Gujarati Dish.
Did you know? about 70% of Gujaratis are vegetarians mainly because:
- Religion:
- 89% of Gujaratis are Hindus, and Hinduism generally advocates vegetarianism and respect for animals. Not all Hindus are vegetarians, but it’s a vast religion and most Gujaratis follow its Vaishnavism tradition (including Swaminarayan) which is the only one of four major Hindu traditions that affirms to vegetarianism. Many other states where Vaishnavism is common also have a high percentage of vegetarians.
- 13% of India’s Jains are Gujaratis, and their religion also affirms to vegetarianism. Some even believe vegetarianism is a foreign element added to Hinduism by Jain and/or Buddhist influence.
- The caste system (now discontinued) has left an influence: the “upper castes” (Brahmins, Kshatriya, and Vaishya/Baniya) were generally vegetarians throughout India and they were in comparatively higher percentages in Gujarat.
Fruits and Vegetables are our primary Need
the map below illustrates that vegetarianism is practiced mainly in the western, central and northern states, and is extremely uncommon in the east and south.Some people wonder why Gujaratis developed as vegetarians even though Gujarat is a coastal location with easy access to seafood. The reason may be that (most) Gujaratis were not always located in Gujarat: it is hypothesized that we diverged from the Maru-Gurjar group of Rajasthan and then moved southward recently — in 600–1200 CE Gujarat (then called Gurjaradesa) was located in eastern Rajasthan / northern Gujarat.
Unlike people in colder places like East Asia, West Asia, and Europe, we didn’t need to eat meat to survive. And India is tropical, so there is easy access to vegetation.
Another reason: Gujarat and its surroundings belong to a different climate from other parts of India, one in which water is scarce. Thus cattle are hard to raise/feed.
- Psychology: we have strong feelings for animals that have been passed down from our ancestors for millennia. As well, since it’s so common here, there are motives such as wanting to follow the mainstream and not being seen as outcasts. And in today’s India, I feel that there’s a stereotype that Gujarat is the most vegetarian state, so you feel like you’re not a proper Gujarati if you’re not vegetarian. Lastly, in the past (when casteism prevailed) those belonging to lower castes may have become vegetarians to appeal to or seem closer to upper castes.
it’s mainly that there’s no need to eat meat, along with belonging to a culture that preaches deep feelings for and connectivity to animals. And since vegetarianism has been instilled in us from early childhood, we simply can’t switch to eating meat or stop passing down the custom ourselves.
My Personal Opinion says that it is not because of the Brahmin/Jain/Vaishnav population which is a majority in Gujarat, but it is more dependent on your family traditions and belief that most of the Gujarati’s are vegetarian. Most of the parents would not like that their children eat non-veg mainly due to the belief in their particular God and strictly following their family tree tradition. It depends on how much your parents are lenient and can grant you the freedom of “food” on this issue. Because at present in Gujarat, you can still see a “pure vegetarian” restaurant and there might be a Barbeque Nation branch just beside it!
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