Meaning Oil producer, oiler Language(s) of origin Gujarati | Region of origin India | |
 | ||
Related names | ||
The Ghanchi (Ghaanchi) are a Gujrati Muslim community found in the states of Gujarat and Rajasthan in India. A small number of Ghanchi are also found in the city of Karachi in Pakistan.
Contents
Origin
The Muslim Ghaanchi are traditionally a community associated with the manufacturing of cooking oil, but have no connection with the Muslim Teli of North India. They are found mainly in the districts of Panchmahal, Sabarkantha and Banaskantha and North Gujarat. The towns of Godhra,Lunawada, Kalol, Ranpur, Botad, Paliyad, Dhandhuka, Wadhwan and Kadi are centres of the Ghanchi community in Gujarat. They have no connection with the Ghanchi-Pinjara community, who were also traditionally associated with the manufacture of oil.
In Rajasthan, the Ghanchi are said to get their name from the ghanch, a traditional oil pressing machine. They are distributed in the districts of Dungarpur, Banswara, Jodhpur and Udaipur. The Ghanchi of Rajasthan speak Mewari, with many also speaking Urdu.
In Gujarat
The Ghanchi are traditionally involved in the manufacture of cooking oil. But with the advancement of modern technology, has led to the Ghanchi to take up other occupations. Many are now businessmen and have become transporters. in lunawada punchmahals ghanchi work in gulf country.
Most of the Ghanchis speak Gujrati in Kutch they speak kutchi and in Rajasthan they speak Mewari.
Like other Gujarati Muslims, they follow the principle of jamat bandi, and have their own association, the Ghanchi Jamat. Most Ghanchis in Karachi, Pakistan are Sunni Muslims, and belong to the Deobandi sub-sect.
In Rajasthan
In Rajasthan, the Ghanchi are still involved with oil pressing. A large number of the community are now cultivators. The Ghanchi of Rajasthan have a statewide caste association, the Ghanchi Jamat. They are strictly endogamous, marrying close kin, practicising both parallel cousin and cross cousin marriages.
Ghanchi of India
Mumbai & Gujarat in India is home to a large community of Ghanchis. Many are settled in the locality of Ghanchi, as well as other parts of Ghanchi Jamatkhana in Mumbai & Gujarat.
Ghanchi of Pakistan
The city of Karachi in Pakistan is home to a large community of Ghanchis All District . Many are settled in the locality of Ghanchi Para[Ranchore Line]{Chakiwara][Baldia][Garden East&wast][PIB Colony][Malir]Aagra Taj Colony, as well as other parts of in All Karachi.