Vaisakhi 2026 - Sikh New Year, Khalsa Panth anniversary and Punjab wheat harvest festival date.
| Year | Baisakhi Date | Day | Mesha Sankranti Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 13 Apr 2024 | Sat | 09:15 PM |
| 2025 | 13 Apr 2025 | Sun | 03:30 PM |
| 2026 | 14 Apr 2026 | Tue | 09:17 AM |
| 2027 | 14 Apr 2027 | Wed | 03:06 PM |
| 2028 | 13 Apr 2028 | Thu | 08:57 PM |
| 2029 | 13 Apr 2029 | Fri | 02:49 PM |
| 2030 | 14 Apr 2030 | Sun | 08:41 AM |
* Baisakhi falls on April 13 or 14 every year based on when the Sun enters Aries (Mesha Sankranti) in the sidereal zodiac. It shifts to April 14 approximately every 36 years.
Baisakhi (also spelled Vaisakhi) is one of the most significant harvest festivals in northern India, celebrated annually on or around April 13-14. The date is astronomically determined - it marks Mesha Sankranti, the moment when the Sun enters the zodiac sign of Aries (Mesha) in the sidereal (nirayana) system used in Indian astronomy. This solar event signals the completion of the rabi (winter wheat) harvest cycle across Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh.
Baisakhi holds extraordinary historical weight for Sikhs: on April 13, 1699, the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji, founded the Khalsa Panth at Anandpur Sahib, transforming the Sikh community into a formal brotherhood with distinct identity and principles. This event is regarded as a watershed moment in Sikh history. The festival also marks a tragic moment in Indian history - the Jallianwala Bagh massacre occurred on Baisakhi Day, April 13, 1919, when British troops fired on a peacefully gathered crowd in Amritsar, killing an estimated 379-1,000 people. The 2019 centenary was commemorated nationally.
Beyond Punjab, the same solar event is celebrated under different names: Vishu in Kerala, Bohag Bihu in Assam, Puthandu in Tamil Nadu, and Ugadi in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. Each tradition marks the same astronomical moment with local customs - from Vishu Kani (auspicious viewing at dawn) in Kerala to Bihu dance performances in Assam. The festival is a public holiday in Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh.