Sindh’s Sadhu Bela: A visual and cultural analysis

ABSTRACT

The Sadhu Bela temple in Sukkur, Sindh established by the Udasi community has attracted interest among Pakistani journalists and social scientists. These accounts variously refer to the site as ‘Hindu,’ ‘Sikh,’ or syncretic between the two. In this visual essay, we draw upon texts that the Udasi community has produced to understand the community’s self-definition. We show how Sadhu Bela continues to have significance in the devotional lives of Punjabis and Sindhis across the India-Pakistan border.

KEYWORDS:

• Sadhu Bela
• Hindu
• Sikh
• Udasi
• Udasin
• Sindh

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).