Baisakhi (Mesha Sankranti) 2023
The solar new year — harvest festival of Punjab; Sun enters sidereal Aries.
Muhurat & timings
Kashi/IST · astronomically computed- Sankranti moment14:39
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 2023
- Makar Sankranti — 14 January 2023
- Vasant Panchami — 26 January 2023
- Maha Shivaratri — 18 February 2023
- Holika Dahan — 6 March 2023
- Holi — 8 March 2023
- Chaitra Navratri begins — 22 March 2023
- Ram Navami — 30 March 2023
- Akshaya Tritiya — 22 April 2023
- Jagannath Rath Yatra — 20 June 2023
- Guru Purnima — 3 July 2023
- Nag Panchami — 21 August 2023
- Raksha Bandhan — 31 August 2023
- Krishna Janmashtami — 6 September 2023
- Hartalika Teej — 18 September 2023
- Ganesh Chaturthi — 19 September 2023
- Anant Chaturdashi — 28 September 2023
- Pitru Paksha begins — 30 September 2023
- Sharad Navratri begins — 15 October 2023
- Durga Ashtami — 22 October 2023
- Maha Navami — 23 October 2023
- Dussehra / Vijayadashami — 24 October 2023
- Karwa Chauth — 1 November 2023
- Dhanteras — 10 November 2023
- Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali) — 12 November 2023
- Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) — 12 November 2023
- Govardhan Puja — 14 November 2023
- Bhai Dooj — 15 November 2023
- Chhath Puja — 19 November 2023
- Kartik Purnima (Dev Deepawali) — 27 November 2023
- Guru Nanak Jayanti — 27 November 2023
- Hindu Festivals 2023 →