A dera is a type of socio-religious organization in northern India. Jacob Copeman defines the deras as "monasteries or the extended residential sites of religious leaders; frequently just glossed as sect".[1]
Several deras started out as non-orthodox Sikh sects, and many of them are now centres of distinct non-Sikh religious movements. Many deras have attracted a large number of Dalits (untouchables), who earlier converted to Sikhism to escape Hindu casteism, but felt socially excluded by the Jat Sikh dominated clerical establishment.