Baisakhi (Mesha Sankranti) 2011
The solar new year — harvest festival of Punjab; Sun enters sidereal Aries.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankranti moment12:49
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 2011
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 2011
- Vasant Panchami — 8 February 2011
- Maha Shivaratri — 2 March 2011
- Holika Dahan — 19 March 2011
- Holi — 20 March 2011
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 4 April 2011
- Ram Navami — 12 April 2011
- Akshaya Tritiya — 6 May 2011
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 3 July 2011
- Guru Purnima — 15 July 2011
- Nag Panchami — 4 August 2011
- Raksha Bandhan — 13 August 2011
- Krishna Janmashtami — 21 August 2011
- Hartalika Teej — 31 August 2011
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 1 September 2011
- Anant Chaturdashi — 11 September 2011
- Pitru Paksha begins — 13 September 2011
- Sharad Navratri begins — 28 September 2011
- Durga Ashtami — 4 October 2011
- Maha Navami — 5 October 2011
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 6 October 2011
- Karwa Chauth — 15 October 2011
- Dhanteras — 24 October 2011
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 25 October 2011
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 26 October 2011
- Govardhan Puja — 27 October 2011
- Bhai Dooj — 28 October 2011
- Chhath Puja — 1 November 2011
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 10 November 2011
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 10 November 2011
- Hindu Festivals 2011 →