The Dhadi Tradition: Chivalric Bards of the Khalsa
Rooted in the doctrine of Miri-Piri, Dhadi balladeers like Sohan Singh Seetal have preserved the collective memory of Sikh resistance through gripping melodic and spoken narratives.
Dhadi Varan Tradition
The Heroic Ballads of Sovereignty, Dhad, and Sarangi
Last modified: Nov 12, 2026 • Editor: Admin
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✦Direct Answer & Key Facts
Instituted in 1606 by Guru Hargobind Sahib at the Akal Takht, the Dhadi tradition is the official bardic genre of Sikhism. Utilizing the hourglass Dhad drum and bowed Sarangi, four-member Dhadi jathas recount epics of martyrdom and battlefield chivalry to galvanize the community.
References & Citations
- A History of the Sikhs— Khushwant Singh(Oxford University Press)[1963]
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