Contemporary Gujarat has a diverse population. The population consists of both the native Gujarat people and also migrants from other Indian states.
The Gujarat people speaks in three Indian languages: Gujarati, Urdu and Sindhi. There are eleven linguistic sub variants of the Gujarati dialect. The linguistic variation is based on geographical factors.
People in north Gujarat speaks a different linguistic variation of the Gujarati language when compared with the people of south Gujarat. The Gujarati language has a different flavor in central or western Gujarat. The Gujarat people seems to speak in different tongues even when they are speaking the same language-Gujarati!
There are three principal religious groups among the Gujarat people: Hindus, Muslims and Jains. The Hindus are predominant among the Gujarat people. A small minority of Gujarat people are Zoroastrians or Parsis.
The Hindu religious order is strictly followed among the Gujarat people who follow the Hindu religion.
The principal economic force among all Gujarat people are the Patels. The Patels own large tracts of land in Gujarat state. They also form the lions' share of the agriculturalists coterie in the state. The Patels have considerable political influence.
Tribals are also found among the population of the Gujarat people. They are known as 'Bhils' in the region. The tribal Gujarat people inhabit in the hilly area of Gujarat that form the border of the plain lands from Abu in the north to Dangs in the south.
The principal tribal groups are the Bhils, Dublas, Naika-Narkdas, Gamits and Dhankas.
The Gujarat people has an enviable cultural diversity which is clearly reflected among the festivals of the state.
