The Chundrigar are a Muslim

Muslim

A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...

 community found in the state of Gujarat in India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

. A few are also found in the city of Karachi

Karachi

Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...

 in Pakistan

Pakistan

Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...

.

History and origin

The Chundrigars are a community associated with the silk knot printing, and manufacture of a piece of cloth known as the chunri or dupata. They claim to have been Arab

Arab

Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...

s who settled in Sindh

Sindh

Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...

, and then moved to Gujarat. There largest concentration is the city of Surat

Surat

Surat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper...

, although there is a large diaspora in Karachi

Karachi

Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...

. According to some traditions, the community are a sub-group with in the Manihar

Manihar

The Manihar or more commonly referred to as the Siddiqui Manihar, are a Muslim community, found mainly in North India, and the province of Sindh in Pakistan. A small number of Manihar are also found in the Terai region of Nepal.-History and origin:...

 community. This is shown by the fact the community intermarry with the Manihar

Manihar

The Manihar or more commonly referred to as the Siddiqui Manihar, are a Muslim community, found mainly in North India, and the province of Sindh in Pakistan. A small number of Manihar are also found in the Terai region of Nepal.-History and origin:...

s, and are members of the Gujarat Manihar Jamat. Almost all the Chundrigar community have abandoned their traditional occupation. They are now mainly a community of petty traders, with a few successful businessmen.