page_title: Sects of Sikhism
section_title: Namdharis
hierarchical_section_title: Sects of Sikhism / Contemporary groups / Namdharis
caption_attribution_description: English: Ustad Baljit Singh with his daughter Luxmi Namdhari and his son Fateh Singh performing at Guru Sangeet Festival 2016
context_page_description: Sects of Sikhism are sub-traditions within Sikhism that believe in an alternate lineage of Gurus, or have a different interpretation of the Sikh scriptures, or believe in following a living guru, or other concepts that differ from the orthodox. The major historic sects of Sikhism, states Harjot Oberoi, have included Udasi, Nirmala, Nanakpanthi, Khalsa, Sahajdhari, Namdhari Kuka, Nirankari and Sarvaria.
  The early Sikh sects were Udasis founded by Sri Chand – the elder son of Guru Nanak, and the Minas Prithi Chand – the elder son of Guru Ram Das respectively, in parallel to the official succession of the Sikh Gurus. Later on Ram Rai – son of Guru Har Rai formed his own sect at Dehradun and his followers are called Ram Raiyass. Many splintered Sikh communities formed during the period between the death of Guru Har Krishan and the coronation of Guru Tegh Bahadur. These sects have had considerable differences. Various other Sikh sects emerged over the Sikh history. Some of these sects were financially and administratively supported by the Mughal Empire in the hopes of gaining a more favorable and compliant citizenry.
context_section_description: Namdharis are a sect of Sikhism, also known as Kuka Sikhs. They believe that the line of Sikh Gurus did not end with Guru Gobind Singh because he did not die in Nanded, he escaped and lived in secret.  This sect claims  he nominated Balak Singh to be the 11th Guru, a tradition that was continued through the Namdhari leaders.
  Their 12th guru was Ram Singh, who moved the sect’s center to Bhaini Sahib (Ludhiana). They have been strictly vegetarian and a strong opponent of cattle slaughter, and retaliated against Muslims for killing cows in 1872. Their leader Ram Singh was arrested by the British and he was exiled to Rangoon, Myanmar. Dozens of Namdharis were arrested by the British and executed without trial in Ludhiana and Ambala. They consider Guru Granth Sahib and Dasam Granth as equally important, and compositions from the Chandi di Var are a part of their daily Nitnem. Like Hindus, they circumambulate the fire (havan) during their weddings, but they differ in that the hymns are those from the Adi Granth.
  The Namdharis wear homespun white turbans, which they wrap around their heads (sidhi pagri). They are called Kuka, which means "crier, shouter", for their ecstatic religious practices during devotional singing. They also meditate, using mala (rosary). Some texts refer to them as Jagiasi or Abhiasi.
caption: Namdhari Sikh singer and musicians.
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