Baisakhi (Mesha Sankranti) 2016
The solar new year — harvest festival of Punjab; Sun enters sidereal Aries.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankranti moment19:35
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 2016
- Makar Sankranti — 15 January 2016
- Vasant Panchami — 13 February 2016
- Maha Shivaratri — 7 March 2016
- Holika Dahan — 22 March 2016
- Holi — 24 March 2016
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 8 April 2016
- Ram Navami — 15 April 2016
- Akshaya Tritiya — 9 May 2016
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 6 July 2016
- Guru Purnima — 19 July 2016
- Nag Panchami — 7 August 2016
- Raksha Bandhan — 18 August 2016
- Krishna Janmashtami — 24 August 2016
- Hartalika Teej — 4 September 2016
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 5 September 2016
- Anant Chaturdashi — 15 September 2016
- Pitru Paksha begins — 17 September 2016
- Sharad Navratri begins — 1 October 2016
- Durga Ashtami — 9 October 2016
- Maha Navami — 10 October 2016
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 11 October 2016
- Karwa Chauth — 19 October 2016
- Dhanteras — 28 October 2016
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 29 October 2016
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 30 October 2016
- Govardhan Puja — 31 October 2016
- Bhai Dooj — 1 November 2016
- Chhath Puja — 6 November 2016
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 14 November 2016
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 14 November 2016
- Hindu Festivals 2016 →