![]() Khojas of Western India ca. 1855-1862 | |
Regions with significant populations | |
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Gujarat, Sindh, Maharashtra | |
Languages | |
Gujarati, Kutchi, Sindhi, Hindi-Urdu | |
Religion | |
Nizari-Ismaili Shia (majority), Twelver Shia, Sunni (minority) |
Part of a series on Islam Isma'ilism |
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The Khoja are a mainly Shia tribe of people originally from the western Indian subcontinent. Khojas once predominantly resided in India, Pakistan and eastern Africa but now form a global diaspora.[1] They are known by many names such as the Lawatia in the Gulf and Karana in Madagascar.
In India, most Khojas live in the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and the city of Hyderabad.In Pakistan, most Khoja live in Karachi in Sindh province. Many Khojas have also migrated and settled over the centuries in East Africa, the Caribbean, Europe and North America. The Khoja were by then adherents of Nizari Isma'ilism. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, particularly in the aftermath of the Aga Khan Case a significant minority separated and adopted Sunni Islam and Twelver shi'ism, while the majority remained Nizari Isma'ili. [2]