Sahajdhari

Sahajdhari (literally "slow adopter") is a person who has chosen the path of Sikhism, but has not still become an Amritdhari (a baptized Sikh initiated into the Khalsa). A sahajdhari believes in all the tenets of Sikhism and the teachings of the Sikh Gurus, but may or may not adorn the five symbols of the Sikh faith. Sahajdharis are eager to join the military or the police, and have a fond of fighting against oppressive governments, in the same way as Keshdharis do, although Sahajdharis prefer not to, unless if necessary. However, amongst their baptized kin, the Khalsa, they are not called to be real Sikhs, although they consider many Keshdharis and some moderate Sahajdharis to be, even though they, too, are not baptized, like the Sahajdharis.

According to the Indian Government's Delhi Sikh Gurdwaras Act (1971) and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the word Sahajdhari refers to a person born into a non-Sikh family: a person born in a Sikh family or a baptized Sikh cannot claim to be a Sahajdhari Sikh by giving up the five articles of faith (such as trimming hair).

Sahajdhari Sikhs plan to get baptized sometime in their lives, and usually raise their children as full Sikhs, although many of them choose not to. The tribes that are mainly Sahajdharis include the Aroras ; whereas the Keshdharis mainly belong to the Jat tribes, who formed the majority of the Sikh population. The vast majority of non-Muslim Sindhis are Sahajdhari Sikhs who conversely also believe in tenets of Hinduism. The Sahajdharis are essentially a non-monastic version of a monastic Sikh group called, the Udasis, who are also members of the Arora tribe. Udasis are Sahajdharis who choose their paths to live their lives as monks.