Vaisakhi ਵਿਸਾਖੀ
Vaisakhi is both the harvest festival of Punjab and Khalsa Sajna Divas, the day in 1699 when Guru Gobind Singh Ji created the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib.
| Year | Occasion | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Vaisakhi (1 Vaisakh, Khalsa Sajna Divas) | |
| 2027 | Vaisakhi (1 Vaisakh, Khalsa Sajna Divas) |
Calculated for Amritsar. SGPC and government announcements take precedence.
How the date is fixed
Vaisakhi is 1 Vaisakh, the day the Sun enters sidereal Aries (Mesha Sankranti). Because this is a solar event, it falls on 13 or 14 April every year. In recent decades it has almost always been 14 April.
Khalsa Sajna Divas
At a gathering at Anandpur Sahib in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh Ji asked for a Sikh willing to give his head. Five men came forward one after another: Bhai Daya Singh, Bhai Dharam Singh, Bhai Himmat Singh, Bhai Mohkam Singh and Bhai Sahib Singh. They were initiated with khande di pahul as the Panj Piare. The Guru then asked them to initiate him in turn. This created the Khalsa, and with it the five Ks and the names Singh and Kaur.
How it is kept
Gurdwaras hold special diwans. Many Sikhs take amrit on this day. Nagar Kirtans led by the Panj Piare move through towns and cities. The largest gatherings are at Takht Sri Damdama Sahib (Talwandi Sabo), Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib (Anandpur Sahib) and Sri Harmandir Sahib.
The harvest
For farmers, Vaisakhi marks the ripening of the wheat. Melas are held across the state, with bhangra, wrestling and food stalls.
Questions
Why is Vaisakhi on 14 April?
It is fixed to the Sun's entry into Aries (1 Vaisakh), a solar event that currently falls on 13 or 14 April.
What happened on Vaisakhi 1699?
Guru Gobind Singh Ji initiated the Panj Piare and created the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib.