Vaisakhi

April 13, 2008

Vaisakhi (Punjabi: ਵੈਸਾਖੀ, vaisākhī, also known as Baisakhi) is a long established harvest festival in Punjab that also has religious significance for both Sikhs^[1] and Hindus.^[2] It falls on the first day of the Vaisakh month in the solar Nanakshahi calendar, which corresponds to April 13 in the Gregorian calendar, except every thirty-sixth year when it falls on April 14.

Vaisakhi is one of the holiest days in Sikhism, commemorating Khalsa, i.e., the establishment of the religion in 1699; as such it also marks the Sikh New Year. It also is observed as the beginning of the new year by Hindus in West Bengal and some other regions of India.^[2] The particular significance attached to the occasion shows regional variation. In Himachal Pradesh, Goddess Jwalamukhi is worshipped on Vaisakhi, while in Bihar, Sun-god Surya is honoured.^[2] The festival is celebrated as Rongali Bihu in Assam, Naba Barsha in Bengal, Puthandu in Tamil Nadu, Vishu (or Vaishakhi) in Kerala, and the Sinhalese/Tamil new year festival in Sri Lanka. Besides Punjab, Vaisakhi is widely celebrated as a harvest festival in other northern states of India, such as Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal.

Source: Wikipedia