New year · Surya (the Sun); Guru Gobind Singh and the Khalsa in Sikh tradition
Baisakhi (Vaisakhi)
The solar new year and spring harvest festival, and the day the Khalsa was founded.
Also known as: Vaisakhi, Vaisakhi Sankranti, Mesha Sankranti
Date and muhurat
✓ 28.6519°N, 77.2315°E · Asia/Kolkata
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When is it observed?
On the day the Sun enters Mesha (Aries) in the sidereal solar calendar, which is usually 13 or 14 April and the first day of the solar month of Vaishakha.
About Baisakhi (Vaisakhi)
Baisakhi marks the Sun's entry into Mesha and is the first day of the solar year in many parts of India. In Punjab it is first of all a harvest festival, when the wheat standing in the fields turns golden and farmers are ready to cut it.
For Sikhs, Vaisakhi is one of the most important days of the year because it commemorates the founding of the Khalsa in 1699. Gurdwaras hold special services, Nagar Kirtan processions pass through towns, and people gather for langar, music and fairs.
Significance
In the agricultural calendar the day is a thanksgiving for the rabi harvest, and farmers pray for a good yield and share the new grain. Hindus also bathe in rivers such as the Ganga, Jhelum or Yamuna on this day, and temples hold special worship.
For Sikhs the day recalls Guru Gobind Singh's call for courage, equality and service. Many Sikhs choose Vaisakhi to take amrit and join the Khalsa. The same solar new year is also marked with different names in other regions.
How Baisakhi is observed
- 1Rise early, bathe (in a river or sarovar where possible) and wear fresh, often colourful, clothes.
- 2Visit the gurdwara or temple for the special morning service, kirtan and the reading of the Guru Granth Sahib.
- 3Take part in or watch the Nagar Kirtan, a procession led by the Panj Pyare and the Guru Granth Sahib.
- 4Eat the langar, the free community meal, and take part in seva such as serving food or cleaning the premises.
- 5In farming families, offer a little of the new crop in prayer and thank the land; at the gurdwara, share kada prashad.
- 6Join in the fairs and dances: bhangra and gidda in Punjab, and cultural events and community lunches elsewhere.
- 7Visit family and friends, exchange greetings and give gifts to children.
The story
In 1699, at Anandpur Sahib, Guru Gobind Singh called a great gathering on Vaisakhi. He asked who was ready to give his head for the faith. Five men stood up one after another, and he initiated them with amrit as the Panj Pyare, the Five Beloved Ones, and then received amrit from them himself.
This created the Khalsa, a community of equals who adopt the five Ks and the surname Singh or Kaur, and who commit to courage, justice and service. The event is the heart of Vaisakhi for Sikhs, while for farmers the day has long been the season of harvest.
What to do
- ✓Visit a gurdwara or temple and take part in seva.
- ✓Bathe early and dress in fresh clothes.
- ✓Share langar and sweets with all, without distinction.
- ✓Thank the farmers and the land for the harvest.
- ✓Greet others with "Happy Baisakhi" or the local new-year greeting.
What to avoid
- ✕Do not waste food at the langar.
- ✕Avoid intoxicants at religious gatherings and processions.
- ✕Do not litter during fairs and bathing at rivers.
- ✕Avoid disrespect to the Guru Granth Sahib: cover your head and keep the premises clean.
- ✕Do not let celebration turn into rowdiness.
Around the country
- Punjab and Haryana: Vaisakhi with bhangra, gidda, fairs and Nagar Kirtan; Talwandi Sabo and Anandpur Sahib draw large crowds.
- Tamil Nadu: Puthandu, the Tamil new year, with mango pachadi and kolam.
- Kerala: Vishu, with the auspicious first sight (vishukkani) and a feast.
- Bengal, Assam and Odisha: Pohela Boishakh, Bohag Bihu and Pana Sankranti respectively, mark their new year around the same time,.
Frequently asked questions
Is Baisakhi always on 13 April?
Not always. It follows the Sun's entry into Mesha, which is usually 13 or 14 April, so the date can shift by a day.
Why is Baisakhi important to Sikhs?
It commemorates the founding of the Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699 at Anandpur Sahib.
Is it only a Punjab festival?
No. The same solar new year is celebrated across India under local names such as Puthandu, Vishu, Pohela Boishakh and Bohag Bihu.