Jacob Copeman defines the deras as "monasteries or the extended residential sites of religious leaders; frequently just glossed as sect".
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.
Deras in Punjab, before the Sikhism, belonged to Sufi Pirs, Yogi Naths, and Sants of the Bhakti movement.
[3] In Punjab, the popularity of Sufi pirs, sants or their shrines can be seen through their veneration across the communities such as Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims.
Khanqahs with modest hospitality and generosity offered spiritual guidance, psychological support and counseling that was free and open to all people.
These included the deras of Bandai Khalsa (a sect who proclaimed Jathedar Banda Singh Bahadur as the 11th guru), Nanakpanthis, Sewapanthis, Bhaktpanthi, Suthrashahi, Gulabdasis, Nirmalas and the Nihangs.
[5] The majority of the followers of these deras were people of Dalit background, who had embraced Sikhism to escape the oppresive Hindu caste system.
[5] The Dalit-dominated deras have emerged as major centres of counter-culture, where the Dalits assert their pride, customs and tradition.
[19] The Dera Sach Khand Ballan (DSB) asked its Dalit followers to vote for the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in 2012 Punjab Legislative Assembly elections, which was responsible for the dismal performance of the Indian National Congress (INC) in the Doaba region.
[11] The Bhaniarwala Dera has not openly supported any political party, but disfavours the Shiromani Akali Dal candidates.