What is Baisakhi?
Baisakhi (also spelled Vaisakhi) is the spring harvest festival celebrated on April 14 every year. It marks the Sun's entry into Mesha Rashi (Aries) — the solar new year in many Indian calendars. For Sikhs, it holds special significance as the day Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa in 1699.
Date & Tithi
Baisakhi 2026: April 14, 2026
- Solar event: Sun enters Mesha Rashi (Aries)
- Month: First day of Vaisakha
Unlike most Hindu festivals tied to the lunar calendar, Baisakhi follows the solar calendar — it falls on April 13 or 14 every year without variation.
Significance
Baisakhi is a harvest festival celebrating the rabi (spring) crop harvest, particularly wheat in Punjab and northern India. Farmers give thanks for a bountiful harvest and pray for prosperity in the coming agricultural season.
For the Sikh community, Baisakhi 1699 marks one of the most important dates in history. On this day at Anandpur Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, the tenth Sikh Guru, established the Khalsa Panth — the collective body of initiated Sikhs. He called for five volunteers willing to give their lives for their faith. These five became the Panj Pyare (Five Beloved Ones), and the Khalsa was born.
Baisakhi also coincides with the solar new year in several regional calendars: Puthandu in Tamil Nadu, Vishu in Kerala, Pohela Boishakh in Bengal, and Rongali Bihu in Assam. While each celebration has its own traditions, they all mark a fresh beginning tied to the astronomical new year.
Celebrations
Punjab & North India
The heart of Baisakhi celebrations is in Punjab. Key traditions include:
- Nagar Kirtan — Sikh processions through streets with the Guru Granth Sahib, singing hymns
- Bhangra & Giddha — Traditional folk dances in open fields, celebrating the harvest
- Gurdwara visits — Special prayers and langar (community meals) at gurdwaras
- Melas (fairs) — Community gatherings with food stalls, folk performances, and wrestling matches
- Wheat offerings — Farmers bring the first harvest to temples and gurdwaras
Rituals
- Wake before dawn and take a ritual bath
- Visit the local gurdwara or temple for morning prayers
- Prepare festive foods: makki di roti, sarson da saag, jalebi, and kheer
- Participate in community celebrations and share meals with neighbors
- In farming communities, thank the land and begin planning for the kharif season
Regional Names
Baisakhi is celebrated under different names across India, each with distinct local traditions:
| Region | Festival Name | Tradition | |--------|--------------|-----------| | Punjab | Baisakhi / Vaisakhi | Bhangra, Giddha, harvest melas | | Tamil Nadu | Puthandu | Kanni (auspicious arrangement), mango pachadi | | Kerala | Vishu | Vishukkani (arrangement of auspicious items), Vishu Kaineettam (gifts) | | Bengal | Pohela Boishakh | Mangal Shobhajatra procession, new account books | | Assam | Rongali Bihu | Bihu dance, community feasting, buffalo fights |
Related Festivals
- Makar Sankranti — Another solar transit festival marking the Sun's entry into Capricorn
- Pongal — South Indian harvest festival celebrated in January
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