ABSTRACT
Gujaratis constitute a prominent ethnic group among South Asian immigrants and provide a good example of the development of a new ethnic group in the United States and the role of religious groups in relation to ethnicity. This chapter focuses on Gujaratis as an ethnic group, on the process through which recent immigrants shape their personal and group identities and on the role religion has in that process. The Swaminarayan Sanstha is a modern sect of Hinduism begun in Gujarat in the early nineteenth century that has become popular among Gujaratis. Regional/linguistic and ecumenical organizations are two of several strategies for the formation and preservation of ethnic identity adopted by Asian Indian religious groups. The differences in their approaches and results can be reviewed under three topics - boundaries, symbols and transitions. Frederick Barth's influential essay on ethnic groups established the importance of ethnic boundaries and boundary maintenance.
