Sahajdhari

A Sahajdhari (Punjabi: ਸਹਜਧਾਰੀ (Gurmukhi); Meaning "spiritual state of equilibrium adopter"; alternatively spelt as Sehajdhari) Sikh is a person who believes in Sikhism, keeps their hair and (in the case of male Sikhs) ties a turban but is not an Amritdhari. Despite not being Khalsa Sikhs, Sahajdhari Sikhs must still keep unshorn hair (kesh) and, in the case of male adherents, tie a turban. Those who do not are known as "Mona Sikhs" - adherents of the Sikh faith who choose to cut their hair. A Sahajdhari adheres to the principles of Sikhism and the teachings of the Sikh gurus but may not wear all of the Five Symbols of Sikhism. For example, Sahajdhari Sikhs often wear a kara, and must keep their kesh and turbans as a requirement, but the majority do not carry the other three of the Five Symbols and the vast majority typically will follow a non-vegetarian diet and consume alcohol.

Despite it being instructed by Guru Gobind Singh for Sikhs to become Amritdhari during the formation of the Khalsa, in modern times, particularly in the western world many Sikhs have chosen to trim their beards and adopt diets consisting of non-vegetarian food and alcohol.

According to the Delhi Sikh Gurdwaras Act of 1971 and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, a Sahajdhari Sikh can be regarded as a Sikh. However, they cannot claim to be an Amritdhari Sikh and must raise their children within the Sikh faith.