April brings with it one of India’s most vibrant and culturally rich festivals: Baisakhi. Celebrated with dhol beats, colourful attire, and traditional dances like bhangra and gidda, this festival is more than just a harvest celebration; it's a powerful blend of faith, history, and new beginnings.
When is Baisakhi 2025?
This year, Baisakhi will be celebrated on Sunday, April 13, 2025. While the sun officially enters Aries (Mesha Rashi) at midnight on April 14, a moment known as Mesha Sankranti, the festival is observed on April 13 in accordance with the traditional Punjabi calendar, aligning with sunrise and community traditions.
Why is Baisakhi celebrated? Know history and significance
Baisakhi, also spelled Vaisakhi, holds multiple layers of significance. From marking the start of the agricultural new year to commemorating a turning point in Sikh history, here's a closer look at his rich history and importance.
Harvest festival of gratitude
At its heart, Baisakhi is an agrarian celebration. It marks the end of the Rabi crop season and the beginning of the Kharif cycle. For farmers in Punjab and across northern India, it's a time to offer thanks for a bountiful harvest and pray for continued prosperity. Fields are full of wheat ready for harvest, and villages come alive with celebrations, filled with music, dance, and feasting.
Punjabi New Year
For many in Punjab, Baisakhi is also the start of a new year. Much like how people celebrate January 1st elsewhere, Punjabis use this day to reflect, reconnect, and restart. Families clean their homes, prepare traditional dishes, and dress in their festive best. It’s a time to forgive past grievances, make new memories, and embrace fresh beginnings.
Birth of the Khalsa in Sikhism
One of the most profound reasons for celebrating Baisakhi lies in Sikh religious history. On this day in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru, laid the foundation of the Khalsa Panth, a community of committed and baptised Sikhs.
During a historic gathering at Anandpur Sahib, he asked for volunteers willing to sacrifice everything for their faith. Five men stepped forward, later known as the Panj Pyare (The Five Beloved Ones). Guru Gobind Singh initiated them and established the Five Ks, articles of faith that baptised Sikhs wear to this day. This moment symbolised unity, courage, and spiritual commitment, making Baisakhi a deeply sacred day in Sikhism.
