Indian Community • Los Angeles
Gujarati Community in Los Angeles
SCGCS est. 1971 • BAPS Chino Hills (2012) — first earthquake-proof mandir in North America • Pioneer Blvd Artesia since 1971 • Jewelry trade + hotel industry • 2 Jain centers • Uttarayan kite festival in January
Los Angeles has one of the most established Gujarati communities in America — built across three distinct zones: the commercial heart of Pioneer Boulevard, Artesia (Little India, operating since 1971), the spiritual center at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills (one of the most architecturally significant Hindu temples in North America, completed 2012 on 20 acres with hand-carved Carrara marble and Rajasthani pink sandstone), and the Downtown LA Jewelry District, where Gujarati diamond and gold dealers have operated for decades. The Southern California Gujarati Cultural Society, founded in 1971, is one of the oldest Indian cultural organizations in all of Southern California. On Pioneer Blvd alone, you will find Rajdhani (the gold standard Gujarati thali restaurant in SoCal), Surati Farsan Mart (est. 1986, gathiya and mithai since Ronald Reagan’s presidency), and Bhindi Jewelers (est. 1984, the first South Asian jeweler to host a Diamond Salon in Artesia).
Last updated: March 2026 • Full Indian Community guide for Los Angeles →
Why Gujarati Families Choose Los Angeles
Gujarati settlement in Los Angeles follows two historic pipelines that no other US metro replicates in the same combination. The first is the jewelry and diamond trade. The Downtown LA Jewelry District — nearly 5,000 businesses between Hill, Broadway, 5th, and 8th Streets — is the largest jewelry district in the United States, and Indian (predominantly Gujarati) wholesale diamond dealers have been embedded there for decades. Bhindi Jewelers, founded by Karsanji Bhindi (a fifth-generation goldsmith from Gujarat), arrived in Artesia in 1984 with a 700-square-foot storefront and grew into a multi-boutique operation spanning LA, Glendale, San Francisco, and Atlanta. The jewelry industry creates a professional pipeline for Gujarati families with trade backgrounds that simply does not exist at the same scale in DFW, Houston, or NJ.
The second pipeline is hospitality and hotel ownership. Gujarati families, predominantly Leva Patels and Kadva Patels, collectively own or operate roughly 42% of the US motel market. The California connection is foundational — it traces to 1942 when Kanjibhai Manchhu Desai took over a Sacramento hotel; the community lending model that built the motel industry started in California. Southern California remains a core AAHOA (Asian American Hotel Owners Association) region, with an active Greater Los Angeles Area chapter. For Gujarati families entering the hospitality business, AAHOA membership and the existing Gujarati hotelier network in Southern California provide the community infrastructure that NJ’s pharma corridor provides for Tamil families.
What makes LA irreplaceable is BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Chino Hills. For Swaminarayan Gujaratis — who represent a significant portion of the Gujarati diaspora — this is not merely a local temple. It is one of the five traditional Hindu mandirs in all of North America, the first earthquake-proof mandir in the world, and a spiritual institution that draws Gujarati families from as far as San Diego and Las Vegas for festivals. The mandir functions as a community anchor for residential decisions: Gujarati families choosing between equivalent job offers in Southern California and Northern California frequently cite the BAPS Chino Hills temple as the decisive factor.
Where Gujarati Families Live in Los Angeles
Los Angeles’s Gujarati community is genuinely multi-nodal — unlike Houston’s Sugar Land corridor or NJ’s Route 1 belt, there is no single Gujarati suburb in LA. Instead, the community organizes around five distinct zones. Understanding which zone fits your commute and family situation is the first decision a new Gujarati arrival needs to make.
Zone 1: Artesia & Cerritos — The Commercial Heart of Little India
Pioneer Boulevard between 183rd and 188th Streets, Artesia is the commercial center for all South Indians in Southern California — and Gujarati businesses are its dominant economic force. The combined Artesia/Cerritos Indian American population exceeds 5,000. Little India generates approximately 25% of Artesia’s sales tax receipts despite Indians representing less than 5% of the city’s population. Gujarati institutions have been here for 40+ years: Jay Bharat Restaurant (1985), Surati Farsan Mart (1986), Bhindi Jewelers (1984), and Rajdhani (2008) are all on or adjacent to Pioneer Blvd. Families who live in Artesia or Cerritos trade square footage for the ability to walk to their grocer, restaurant, and jeweler — and to live in the community they moved here to join.
Zone 2: Chino Hills, Diamond Bar & Norwalk — The Spiritual & Residential Core
The Chino Hills/Diamond Bar corridor (eastern LA County / western San Bernardino County) is where many Gujarati homeowner families settle — drawn by newer housing stock, good school districts, and proximity to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (15100 Fairfield Ranch Rd, Chino Hills). Families who attend BAPS weekly sabhas factor the 20-30 minute commute to the mandir into their housing decision. Norwalk, closer to Artesia on Pioneer Blvd, adds the ISSO Swaminarayan Temple (15213 S Pioneer Blvd) as a second institutional anchor. Census PUMA data confirms Gujarati speaker concentrations in the belt connecting Artesia, Norwalk, and Chino Hills. This is the zone for families prioritizing religious community life and homeownership over walk-to-Pioneer-Blvd convenience.
Zone 3: Downtown LA — Jewelry District Trade Hub
Downtown LA’s Jewelry District (bordered by Hill, Broadway, 5th, and 8th Streets) houses nearly 5,000 businesses and is the largest jewelry wholesale district in the United States. Gujarati diamond and gold dealers operate here in the wholesale/trade segment, many commuting from Artesia, Cerritos, or Diamond Bar. The Indian Jewelry Mall (1008 Santee St, in the Fashion District / Santee Alley area) is the premier Indian fashion jewelry anchor downtown. This is a professional cluster rather than a residential zone — Gujarati families who work in the jewelry trade typically live in Zone 1 or Zone 2 and commute to Downtown for business.
Zone 4: Orange County — Buena Park, Irvine & Anaheim
Orange County has a meaningful Gujarati presence centered around Buena Park and Irvine. The Jain Center of Southern California in Buena Park (8072 Commonwealth Ave) is the primary Jain center for SoCal and draws Gujarati-Jain businesspeople from across the county. SCGCS has held its Navratri Garba at the Jain Center; the SCGCS summer picnic goes to Irvine Regional Park. Census PUMA data shows 657 Gujarati speakers (ACS 2022) in Irvine Central (PUMA 05923). OC Gujarati families are more dispersed than the Artesia cluster; the Rameelo Navratri Garba at OC Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa has become the cultural anchor that draws OC Gujarati families together each September.
Zone 5: San Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley has its own Gujarati community organized around the San Fernando Valley Gujarati Association (founded 1978). The Valley corridor (Northridge, Canoga Park, Chatsworth, North Hollywood) is geographically separate from the Artesia/Chino Hills cluster and has developed its own community infrastructure. India Sweets & Spices has Valley locations (Northridge, Canoga Park) serving Valley Gujarati families. For Valley residents, the 30-40 minute drive to Artesia is manageable but not weekly; the SFVGA’s Uttarayan and Holi events provide local community gathering points.
Gujarati Organizations in Los Angeles
Southern California Gujarati Cultural Society (SCGCS)
Website: scgcs.org | Founded: 1971 | Membership: 400+ families
One of the oldest Indian cultural organizations in all of Southern California — founded the same year as Little India Artesia itself. SCGCS has sustained Gujarati cultural life in SoCal for over 50 years through events explicitly designed for Gujarati families: Navratri Raas Garba (held at the Jain Center of Southern California, Buena Park), Diwali Dinner, Holi Celebration, Ram Navami (devotional music and community meal), Summer Picnic (Irvine Regional Park), and a New Year’s Eve Dinner & Dance Party for members. SCGCS is the first call for any new Gujarati arrival wanting to plug into established Southern California community life.
Gujarati Society of Southern California (GSSC)
Website: gujaratisocal.org | Status: 501(c)(3), EIN 82-2487416 | Based: Cerritos area
The newer, broader-mandate Gujarati organization for Southern California. GSSC’s mission explicitly unites Gujaratis “of all backgrounds” — including networking for business owners and young professionals, health awareness programs, political awareness, disaster relief fundraising, and support for youth, women, and senior citizens. Hosts Garba events in Los Angeles and runs an active youth committee. For Gujarati professionals and newer arrivals who want community networking alongside cultural events, GSSC is the complement to SCGCS.
San Fernando Valley Gujarati Association (SFVGA)
Website: sfvga.org | Founded: 1978
LA’s dedicated organization for the San Fernando Valley Gujarati community — serving families in the Valley who are geographically separate from the Artesia/Chino Hills cluster. SFVGA runs Holi, Uttarayan (the Makar Sankranti kite festival — the most distinctly Gujarati event in any metro), and Games & Music Night. The Uttarayan event is notable: flying kites on January 14 is as culturally Gujarati as Navratri, and the SFVGA is one of the few organizations in the US that organizes it as a community event. Valley Gujarati families who cannot make the drive to Artesia or Chino Hills for every event will find SFVGA their primary community anchor.
Gujarati Temples & Houses of Worship in Los Angeles
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Los Angeles (Chino Hills)
Address: 15100 Fairfield Ranch Rd, Chino Hills, CA 91709 | Phone: (909) 614-5000 | Website: baps.org/Global-Network/North-America/LosAngeles
Hours (Weekdays): 9:00 AM–12:00 PM & 4:00 PM–7:00 PM | Hours (Weekends & Holidays): 9:00 AM–7:00 PM | Free and open to all
The BAPS Chino Hills mandir is not a local temple — it is one of the most significant Hindu structures in the Western Hemisphere. Opened in 2012 on a 20-acre site, it features: 35,000 pieces of hand-carved white Italian Carrara marble, exterior clad in pink sandstone from Rajasthan, a 91-foot lotus-shaped pond, 5 pinnacles, 2 large domes, 122 pillars, 129 archways, and 6,600 hand-carved motifs. It is the first earthquake-proof mandir in the world (built on a floating base isolation system with 40 isolators) and the fifth traditional Hindu mandir in all of North America. Approximately 900 volunteers contributed 1.3 million man-hours in construction. Ten major shrines include Bhagwan Swaminarayan, Krishna, Ram, Shiva, and Ganesha. Weekly sabhas in Gujarati for devotees; Kishor-Kishori Sabha in English for grades 9–12 and college students; BAPS Bal Satsang children’s programs. Signature annual event: Diwali & Annakut Multi-Day Festival with Light & Sound Spectacular, maha aarti, Annakut food display, carnival rides — covered by CBS Los Angeles as one of SoCal’s most beloved Diwali traditions.
Shree Swaminarayan Temple, Norwalk (ISSO)
Address: 15213 South Pioneer Blvd, Norwalk, CA 90650 | Phone: (562) 864-8801 | Website: issola.com
Consecrated in December 2000, this is the ISSO (International Swaminarayan Satsang Organization) temple — affiliated with the Vadtal Laxminarayan Diocese of Vadtal, Gujarat, the original Swaminarayan Sampraday tradition (distinct from BAPS). Weekly congregational satsang; NNDYM (Nar Narayan Dev Yuvak Mandal) youth body with camps and seminars; Navratri Garba events. Located on Pioneer Blvd near the Little India commercial strip — a more accessible weekly temple for Artesia-area Gujarati families than the Chino Hills mandir.
Jain Center of Southern California (JCSC)
Address: 8072 Commonwealth Ave, Buena Park, CA 90621 | Website: jaincenter.org | Founded: 1979
The primary Jain center for Southern California — deeply significant for the Gujarati-Jain community, which includes many of the Artesia jewelry dealers and business owners. JCSC played a foundational role in establishing JAINA (the umbrella Jain organization of North America) and hosted the first JAINA convention in 1981. The facility houses a historically significant 1904 wooden Jain Temple structure originally built for the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair (carefully restored). The Pathshala serves over 350 students with 90 teachers and volunteers. Sub-organizations include JCYC (youth), JAYA (young adults), Jain Seniors Association, and Mahavir Mahila Mandal. Key festivals: Paryushana Parva (8–10 days, August–September — the holiest Jain observance period), Mahavir Jayanti (April), Diwali. Gujarati families who follow Jain dietary observances (no root vegetables, strict ahimsa) will find the JCSC an essential community anchor in Southern California.
Jain Temple of Los Angeles (JTLA)
Address: 10105 Commerce Ave, Tujunga, CA 91042 | Phone: (213) 820-5400 | Website: jaintempleofla.org
A newer Jain temple for the Los Angeles area proper, with a Pratishta (consecration) ceremony held May 1, 2025 in collaboration with JCSC. Serves Jain families in the San Fernando Valley and northern LA who find Buena Park a long drive. Mission: practice, promote, and preserve the Jain religion, providing a place of worship fostering spiritual growth and community unity.
Gujarati Restaurants & Food in Los Angeles
A distinctive feature of Gujarati dining in LA: every major Gujarati restaurant on Pioneer Blvd is fully vegetarian. Gujarati cuisine’s vegetarian identity — rooted in Jain influence and Vaishnav tradition — is preserved without compromise in Artesia. Several restaurants also offer Jain accommodations (no root vegetables) on request.
Rajdhani — The Gujarati Thali Destination
Address: 18525 Pioneer Blvd, Artesia, CA 90701 (2nd floor; look for staircase mid-building) | Website: rajdhaniofartesia.com
Hours: Closed Mondays; Tue–Fri 11:30 AM–2:45 PM; Sat–Sun 11:30 AM–7:45 PM | Price: ~$26 per person
The definitive Gujarati dining experience in Southern California and, by wide consensus, the gold standard for Gujarati thali outside of Gujarat. Women-owned, Gujarati family since 2014. The service model: tableside unlimited thali — food comes to you fresh and hot, not a buffet. The rotating seasonal menu includes soft roti, creamy yogurt, lentil broth, fragrant pickles, dal dhokli, masala curries, and traditional desserts. Vegan-friendly; Jain accommodations available on request (no root vegetables). Featured in The Infatuation, Timeout Los Angeles, Eat the World LA, and CBS Los Angeles. With 765+ Yelp reviews, this is the restaurant every Gujarati newcomer to LA needs to visit first — and the one they will bring family to visit from Gujarat.
Jay Bharat — 40 Years of Kathiawadi & Surat Cooking
Address: 18701 Pioneer Blvd, Artesia, CA 90701 | Website: jaybharat.com
Hours: Closed Mondays; Tue–Thu 11:00 AM–8:00 PM; Fri–Sat 11:00 AM–9:00 PM; Sun 11:00 AM–8:00 PM
In business since 1985, Jay Bharat specializes in South Gujarati home-style cooking — specifically the Kathiawadi and Surat regional styles that are distinct from the North Gujarati cooking dominant in other Indian restaurants. Signature items: Kathiawadi Thali, Pav Bhaji, Pani Puri, Dabeli, Pav Vada, Bhel Puri. Fully vegetarian; DoorDash and in-house online ordering available. For Gujaratis from the Saurashtra or Surat regions — where the cuisine uses more tamarind, peanuts, and coconut than the Ahmedabad/North Gujarat style — Jay Bharat is the most authentic taste of home on Pioneer Blvd.
Surati Farsan Mart — Sweets & Savory Snacks Since 1986
Address: 11814 E 186th St, Artesia, CA 90701 | Website: suratifarsan.com
Hours: Daily; check website for current hours | Shipping: Nationwide (free ground shipping on orders over 6 lbs)
The most authentically Gujarati retail experience in all of Southern California, and the one store every Gujarati family eventually discovers. In business since 1986 (nearly 40 years), Surati Farsan Mart specializes in exactly what its name says: Surat-style farsan (savory snacks) and mithai (sweets). Savory inventory: gathiya, chevdo, chana dal, sev, puri, bhel puri, samosas, pav vada. Sweet inventory: barfi (half-dozen varieties), kajukatri, penda, pista rolls, mohanthal, ladoo, jalebi, mawa mithai. If you want traditional gathiya for Uttarayan, chevdo for Diwali, or mawa barfi for a puja, this is the only place to go in Southern California. Dine-in for snacks available.
Rasraj — Gujarati & Chaat Variety
Address: 18616 Pioneer Blvd, Artesia, CA 90701 | Phone: (562) 809-3141 | Website: rasraj.com
Hours: Closed Mondays; Tue–Sun 10:00 AM–9:00 PM | Delivery: Uber Eats, GrubHub, DoorDash
A family with food business roots dating to 1971 in Leicester, UK. Rasraj offers a broad Gujarati and Indian fusion menu: Gujarati Thali, chaat, North Indian classics, and Indo-Chinese. A good option for mixed groups (Gujarati and non-Gujarati families dining together) or for days when you want variety beyond a single regional cuisine.
Indian Groceries on Pioneer Boulevard
Four grocers within walking distance on Pioneer Blvd serve the Gujarati pantry:
Bharat Bazaar (18301 Pioneer Blvd Suite D, (562) 860-5860): Full-service Indian grocery supermarket; broadest standard Gujarati inventory including toor dal, besan, atta, rice, pickles, and Gujarati-brand packaged goods.
Ambala Cash & Carry (18411 Pioneer Blvd, (562) 924-1441 — open daily 10 AM–10 PM): Longest hours on the strip; bulk Gujarati staples (toor dal, fenugreek, methi, ghee).
Ambala Sweets & Snacks (18433 Pioneer Blvd, (562) 402-0006): Fresh Indian sweets companion to Ambala Cash & Carry.
India Sweets & Spices (18181 Pioneer Blvd, (562) 809-3191 — founded 1984 in Culver City; multiple SoCal locations): Indian grocery plus vegetarian restaurant combo; carries Gujarati staples and prepared foods. Additional Valley locations in Northridge and Canoga Park for San Fernando Valley families.
Gujarati Language & Heritage Education
There is no dedicated standalone Gujarati language school in the LA metro comparable to the Tamil or Punjabi school networks. The most structured children’s heritage education available to Gujarati families comes through BAPS Bal Satsang programs at the Chino Hills mandir. Families outside the BAPS tradition rely on community programs and online instruction.
- BAPS Bal Satsang (Chino Hills Mandir) — 15100 Fairfield Ranch Rd, Chino Hills | Weekly sabhas in Gujarati for children; 5-level Bal Satsang Examination series (based on Bal Satsang books 1–2 and Satsang Vihar books 1–3); Kishor-Kishori Sabha in English for grades 9–12 and college students. baps.org / kids.baps.org. This is the most established and structured children’s Gujarati heritage program in Southern California.
- SFVGA Youth Programs — San Fernando Valley Gujarati Association (sfvga.org); youth-focused cultural programming for Valley families; check website for current offerings.
- Sanskar Teaching (sanskarteaching.com) — Live Zoom classes and self-paced digital courses in Gujarati and Hindi; all ages; good option for families in zones without in-person programs.
- Swadeshi Roots (ourswadeshiroots.com) — Online Gujarati classes for kids and teens; personalized or group coaching.
- Outschool (outschool.com) — Online Gujarati classes for kids; good for supplementing weekend programs or covering gaps in metro coverage.
Gujarati Arts, Culture & Festivals in Los Angeles
Navratri Garba — Multiple Celebrations Across SoCal
Los Angeles has one of the richest Navratri calendars in the US — multiple organizations run parallel events across September and October, so Gujarati families can attend three or four separate Garba nights during the nine-day festival. Key events:
Rameelo “Navlakh Navratri” (rameelo.com): Now in its 5th year, Rameelo has become the signature secular Navratri cultural event in SoCal — a nonprofit movement preserving the spirit of Raas and Garba “across generations.” Features live artists like Jigardan Gadhavi (Jigrra); held at OC Fairgrounds (88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA); food stalls and VIP experiences. One of the largest Garba events in Southern California.
SCGCS Annual Navratri Raas Garba (scgcs.org): Traditional Garba with live music; held at the Jain Center of Southern California (Buena Park). The elder-community tradition — more classical in style than Rameelo.
GSSC Navratri/Garba (gujaratisocal.org): Annual event, location varies; covered by The Indian EYE; serves the broader OC and LA Gujarati community.
BAPS Mandir Navratri (Chino Hills): Garba and devotional celebrations for BAPS devotees during Navratri.
Uttarayan (Makar Sankranti Kite Festival) — January
Organizer: San Fernando Valley Gujarati Association (sfvga.org) | When: January, around January 14–15
Uttarayan — the day Gujaratis fly kites on rooftops, terraces, and open fields to celebrate Makar Sankranti — is as culturally distinctive to Gujarat as Navratri. Virtually no other Indian regional community marks this day with organized kite flying, which makes SFVGA’s Uttarayan event uniquely meaningful. If you grew up flying kites in Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, or Vadodara and thought you’d never replicate it in America — this event exists for you.
BAPS Diwali & Annakut Festival
Venue: BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, 15100 Fairfield Ranch Rd, Chino Hills | Website: bapsladiwali.org
The BAPS Diwali & Annakut celebration is the largest South Asian Diwali event in Southern California — a multi-day affair with a Light & Sound Spectacular, maha aarti, the traditional Annakut food display (hundreds of vegetarian dishes offered to the divine), carnival rides, and a kids’ zone. Covered annually by CBS Los Angeles. For Gujarati families, the Annakut — where food is offered to Bhagwan Swaminarayan as a symbol of gratitude — is the most culturally resonant Diwali tradition from their home state, preserved in full at the Chino Hills mandir.
Data Sources
U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (2022 5-Year Estimates) • Community organization websites and direct verification • Local school district enrollment data • Zillow and Apartments.com (rent estimates) • Glassdoor and BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (salary data) • Redfin (home price data). Community population estimates reflect available Census language data combined with organization-reported figures. Read our full research methodology →