Baisakhi in India - All You Need to Know

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Baisakhi, also known as Vaisakhi, is one of India’s most vibrant and culturally significant festivals, celebrated with great enthusiasm across the country, especially in Punjab and Haryana. This harvest festival marks the beginning of the Punjabi New Year and is a time for thanksgiving, community bonding, and spiritual reflection. Falling in the month of April, Baisakhi is also associated with the foundation of the Khalsa Panth in Sikhism, making it a festival of immense cultural, religious, and historical importance.

When is Baisakhi 2025?

In 2025, Baisakhi will be observed on Sunday, April 13. The date is based on the solar calendar, as Baisakhi marks the first day of the Hindu solar month of Vaisakha, aligning with the harvest season.
The festival of Baisakhi falls on the first day of Vaisakh month (April-May), according to the Sikh Calendar. For this reason, Baisakhi is also referred to as Vaisakhi. Baisakhi also marks the Punjabi New Year. According to the English calendar, the date of Baisakhi corresponds to April 13 every year and April 14 once every 36 years. This variation is due to the festival being observed as per the Indian solar calendar. This year Baisakhi falls on 13 April.

What is Baisakhi?

Baisakhi is primarily celebrated as a harvest festival, marking the end of the rabi crop season and the onset of the new agricultural year. Farmers across northern India, especially in Punjab and Haryana, celebrate this day as an occasion to express gratitude for a bountiful harvest and pray for prosperity in the coming year.

For Sikhs, Baisakhi holds special religious significance, as it commemorates the founding of the Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1699. This event laid the foundation for a united Sikh community committed to equality, service, and justice. The festival is celebrated with a blend of devotion, cultural performances, and community activities, making it a unique and joyous occasion.

How is Baisakhi Celebrated?

Baisakhi
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Baisakhi is celebrated with great enthusiasm, particularly in Punjab, Haryana, and other parts of northern India. Here’s how the festival is observed:

1. Early Morning Prayers at Gurudwaras

Devotees visit Gurudwaras (Sikh temples) early in the morning to offer prayers and seek blessings. Special kirtans (devotional songs) and langars (community meals) are organized, creating an atmosphere of devotion and unity.

2. Nagar Kirtans (Religious Processions)

One of the most striking aspects of Baisakhi is the Nagar Kirtan, a vibrant procession led by the Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh holy scripture) carried on a decorated palanquin. Accompanied by devotional singing, martial arts displays, and traditional music, these processions bring communities together in celebration.

3. Harvest Celebrations in Fields

For farmers, Baisakhi is a day to celebrate their hard work and the rewards of the harvest. Fields are decorated, and rituals are performed to thank the divine forces for a bountiful yield.

Vaisakhi 2018
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4. Traditional Dance and Music

Baisakhi is incomplete without the energetic Bhangra and Gidda dance performances. Dressed in colorful traditional attire, men and women perform these lively dances to the beats of the dhol, celebrating the joy of the harvest.

Vaisakhi 2018 

5. Feasting and Traditional Foods

Festive meals are an integral part of Baisakhi. Dishes like Makki di Roti, Sarson da Saag, Pinni, and Lassi are prepared and enjoyed by families and communities. The langars at Gurudwaras also serve delicious vegetarian meals to all attendees, emphasizing the spirit of equality and service.

6. Community Fairs and Melas

Baisakhi melas (fairs) are organized in villages and towns, featuring folk music, traditional games, and stalls selling handicrafts and local delicacies. These fairs provide a platform for cultural exchange and celebration.

7. Khalsa Initiation Ceremonies

For Sikhs, Baisakhi is a deeply spiritual day, as it commemorates the creation of the Khalsa Panth by Guru Gobind Singh Ji in 1699. Special ceremonies are held at prominent Gurudwaras like Golden Temple (Amritsar), where Sikhs take part in the Amrit Sanchar (baptism ceremony) to formally join the Khalsa community.Baisakhi Customs and Traditions

History and Significance of Baisakhi

Baisakhi was one of the three festivals that the third Sikh Guru, Guru Amar Das, chose to be celebrated by the Sikhs. In 1699, the ninth Sikh Guru, Guru Teg Bahadur, was publicly beheaded by the Mughals. This occurred due to his willingness to oppose the Mughal invaders and protect the cultural identity of Hindus and Sikhs whom the Mughal ruler Aurangzeb wanted to convert to Islam. On Baisakhi day of 1699, his son, Guru Gobind Rai, rallied the Sikhs and inspired them through his words and actions, bestowing upon them and himself the title of Singh or lion, thus becoming Guru Gobind Singh.

The five Ks of Sikhism were adopted, and the Guru system was dispelled, with Sikhs being urged to accept the Granth Sahib as the eternal guide. Thus, the festival of Baisakhi is observed as the coronation of the last Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, as well as the foundation of the Khalsa Panth of Sikhism, granting it a position of immense importance to Sikhism, and is one of the biggest Sikh festivals.

Key Places to Celebrate Baisakhi 2025

1. Golden Temple, Amritsar

The Golden Temple, or Harmandir Sahib, is the focal point of Baisakhi celebrations for Sikhs. The temple is beautifully decorated, and thousands of devotees gather for prayers, kirtans, and the langar.

2. Anandpur Sahib

Anandpur Sahib is the birthplace of the Khalsa and a significant site for Baisakhi celebrations. Special events and Amrit Sanchar ceremonies are held here, attracting Sikhs from all over the world.

3. Villages of Punjab and Haryana

Baisakhi is celebrated with unmatched enthusiasm in the villages, where the festival retains its agricultural roots. Traditional dance, music, and fairs make the rural celebrations a lively and authentic experience.

4. Cities Across India

Major cities like Delhi, Chandigarh, and Ludhiana also host Baisakhi events, including Nagar Kirtans and cultural programs.

Baisakhi was also the day of the Jallianwala Bagh Massacre in 1919, when the British colonists trapped and murdered a peaceful assembly of Indians, acting as a major catalyst in the Indian freedom struggle.

This post was published by Nibha Chaudhuri

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FAQs on Punjab

What is Nagar Kirtan?

The Baisakhi Procession, also known as Nagar Kirtan, is an important part of the celebrations in Punjab. The most sacred scripture Granth Sahib is taken out with honour by traditionally dressed Panj Piaras, also known as the five senior religious Sikhs, and an important part of the Khals traditions. Baisakhi processions move through the streets and lanes of the city, accompanied by music, singing and chanting of scriptures and hymns. A large number of devotees participate in the Baisakhi processions.

During the Baisakhi processions, children and youth demonstrate their skills in martial arts along with the drummers and bands around, and men swinging swords making the event more colourful. All in all, it's safe to say that each year, the festival of Baisakhi marks a new chapter in the life of people.

What is the special food of Baisakhi?

Multiple food stalls are set up at the Baisakhi fairs to keep the crowds refreshed and energised as they party all night. Quintessentially Punjabi cuisine like Chhole Bature, Achari mutton, Chicken saagwala, Sarson ka saag, kadhi chawal, dry fruit kheer and the famous lassi are ever-present at the fair. These gastronomic delights are representative of the great love of food and flavour displayed by the people of Punjab.

What to wear during Baisakhi?

As a celebration of the new spring, Vaisakhi is an occasion that sees men, women and children commemorate this joyous occasion by buying new attire, picking the most lively and dynamic of the lot to reflect the atmosphere of happiness felt throughout the crowd. Traditional Punjabi attire for men includes the turban with the fan-like adornment worn with a kurta, a waistcoat, the rumaal or scarf, and the lungi tied around their waist, while the women wear the customary garments of Salwar Kameez with the most festive and ostentatious jewellery. The multi-coloured brilliance of this attire reflects the perky and bubbly nature of the Punjabi way of living.

What's the traditional dance performed during Baisakhi?

The traditional dances of Bhangra and Gidda are performed during Baisakhi to the beat of the drums in open fields creating an atmosphere of zest and joy. At some places, fairs are held where people bring out their happiness and perform acrobatics. Men, women and children adorn themselves in colourful clothes and jewellery while they excitedly participate in the festivities.

Are Baisakhi and Lohri the same?

No, Baisakhi and Lohri are different festivals. Lohri, celebrated in January, marks the end of winter and the harvesting of sugarcane, while Baisakhi, celebrated in April, signifies the Punjabi New Year and the harvest of the rabi crop.

Why has Vaisakhi date changed?

Vaisakhi’s date changes slightly each year because it is based on the solar calendar. It falls on the first day of the Hindu solar month Vaisakha, which aligns with April 13 or 14 on the Gregorian calendar.

Is Ugadi and Baisakhi same?

No, Ugadi and Baisakhi are different festivals. Ugadi marks the New Year in the Deccan regions of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana, whereas Baisakhi is primarily a harvest festival celebrated in Punjab and Haryana.

Is Baisakhi always on 13 April?

Baisakhi usually falls on April 13, but it can sometimes fall on April 14, depending on the alignment of the solar calendar.

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