DigiNepal · festivals
Baisakhi (Vaisakhi) (ਵਿਸਾਖੀ (Punjabi), बैसाखी (Hindi)). Region: India (Punjab, Haryana), Pakistan, Sikh diaspora. Tradition: Sikh and Hindu. Calendar: Solar (sun enters sidereal Aries). Dates: Punjab 2026: Tuesday 14 April 2026 [computed]; Punjab 2027: Wednesday 14 April 2027 [computed]; Punjab 2028: Friday 14 April 2028 [computed]. History and significance: Baisakhi is the spring harvest festival of Punjab and the Sikh new year. In 1699 Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib on this day, so Sikhs celebrate it as Khalsa Sajna Diwas. Gurdwaras hold special services and nagar kirtan processions, and farmers celebrate the rabi harvest. The same solar new year is Bohag Bihu in Assam, Pohela Boishakh in Bengal and Vishu in Kerala. Key rituals and foods: Gurdwara visits, nagar kirtan, bhangra, fairs; foods include langar, kada prasad, chhole bhature and lassi. Date basis: official = matches a government gazetted holiday list; computed = calculated from the calendar system (tithi astronomy with skyfield and JPL DE421, Hijri Umm al-Qura, Chinese, Korean and Hebrew calendar libraries, or the fixed rule); expected = Umm al-Qura projection pending moon sighting. Sources: Wikipedia and Wikidata (CC BY-SA, CC0) and government holiday lists, summarised in our own words.