Baisakhi (Mesha Sankranti) 2013
The solar new year — harvest festival of Punjab; Sun enters sidereal Aries.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankranti moment01:07
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 2013
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 2013
- Vasant Panchami — 15 February 2013
- Maha Shivaratri — 10 March 2013
- Holika Dahan — 26 March 2013
- Holi — 28 March 2013
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 11 April 2013
- Ram Navami — 19 April 2013
- Akshaya Tritiya — 12 May 2013
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 10 July 2013
- Guru Purnima — 22 July 2013
- Nag Panchami — 12 August 2013
- Raksha Bandhan — 21 August 2013
- Krishna Janmashtami — 28 August 2013
- Hartalika Teej — 8 September 2013
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 9 September 2013
- Anant Chaturdashi — 18 September 2013
- Pitru Paksha begins — 20 September 2013
- Sharad Navratri begins — 5 October 2013
- Durga Ashtami — 12 October 2013
- Maha Navami — 13 October 2013
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 13 October 2013
- Karwa Chauth — 22 October 2013
- Dhanteras — 1 November 2013
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 2 November 2013
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 3 November 2013
- Govardhan Puja — 4 November 2013
- Bhai Dooj — 5 November 2013
- Chhath Puja — 8 November 2013
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 17 November 2013
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 17 November 2013
- Hindu Festivals 2013 →