Baisakhi (Mesha Sankranti) 1996
The solar new year — harvest festival of Punjab; Sun enters sidereal Aries.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankranti moment16:31
Festival days follow the classical attribution rules — udaya (sunrise), pradosha (evening), nishita (midnight), madhyahna or aparahna vyapini as each festival prescribes — computed for Kashi/Varanasi (IST). Regional observance can differ by a day in some years.
Read the Baisakhi (Mesha Sankranti) puja vidhi, vrat rules and kathaBaisakhi (Mesha Sankranti) — Frequently Asked Questions
When is Baisakhi celebrated?
On the first day of the solar month of Vaisakha, which falls on 13 April in most years and 14 April in some. Being a solar festival, its date is nearly fixed, unlike the lunar festivals. This year's date is shown above.
Why is Baisakhi important to Sikhs?
On Vaisakhi in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib, initiating the Panj Pyare and giving the community the five kakars and the names Singh and Kaur. It is among the most significant days in the Sikh year.
Is Baisakhi a Hindu or a Sikh festival?
Both, and more. It is an ancient solar harvest festival kept across faiths and, since 1699, the founding day of the Khalsa. The same solar new year is celebrated across India under names like Vishu, Puthandu, Pohela Boishakh and Bihu.
Is a fast kept on Baisakhi?
No. Baisakhi is a festival of harvest and thanksgiving, kept with gurudwara worship, langar, and the mela — not with fasting.
Other major festivals in 1996
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 1996
- Vasant Panchami — 24 January 1996
- Maha Shivaratri — 17 February 1996
- Holika Dahan — 4 March 1996
- Holi — 6 March 1996
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 20 March 1996
- Ram Navami — 28 March 1996
- Akshaya Tritiya — 20 April 1996
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 17 July 1996
- Guru Purnima — 30 July 1996
- Nag Panchami — 19 August 1996
- Raksha Bandhan — 28 August 1996
- Krishna Janmashtami — 4 September 1996
- Hartalika Teej — 16 September 1996
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 16 September 1996
- Anant Chaturdashi — 26 September 1996
- Pitru Paksha begins — 28 September 1996
- Sharad Navratri begins — 13 October 1996
- Durga Ashtami — 20 October 1996
- Maha Navami — 21 October 1996
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 21 October 1996
- Karwa Chauth — 29 October 1996
- Dhanteras — 8 November 1996
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 10 November 1996
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 10 November 1996
- Govardhan Puja — 12 November 1996
- Bhai Dooj — 13 November 1996
- Chhath Puja — 16 November 1996
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 25 November 1996
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 25 November 1996
- Hindu Festivals 1996 →