Baisakhi Celebration

Baisakhi is celebrated on April 13/April 14 every year. The Change in date occurs due to the solar calendar. Astrologically, Baisakhi marks sun’s entry into Mesh Rashi. It is also known as Mesha Sankranti. Baisakhi is celebrated all over India under different names and rituals. Baisakhi in Punjab is celebrated as 'Rongali Bihu' in Assam, 'Naba Barsha' in Bengal, ‘Puthandu’ in Tamil Nadu, 'Pooram Vishu' in Kerala and ‘Vaishakha’ in the state of Bihar.

Regional celebrations of Baisakhi

• Punjab- In Punjab and Haryana, Baisakhi Festival is celebrated as a Thanksgiving Day and harvest of Rabi (winter) crops. People visit temples and gurdwaras to seek blessing for ensuing agriculture season. Farmers also celebrate Baisakhi by performing energetic bhangra and gidda dance and participating in Baisakhi Fairs.
  Baisakhi is of major importance for the people following Sikh faith. It was on a Baisakhi Day the Tenth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh founded Khalsa Panth. Sikhs celebrate Baisakhi by participating in special prayer meetings organized at gurdwaras. They also carry out joyful Baisakhi processions to mark the day.
• Bihar- Vaishakha Festival is dedicated to Surya Devta or Sun God in Bihar.
• Assam-The Rongali Bihu marks the agricultural New Year at the advent of seeding time and is celebrated as the Festival of Merriment
• Bengal- Naba Barsha in Bengal marks the first day of Baisakh, the first month of Bengali Calendar. For Bengalis, Naba Barsha is the beginning of all business activities. Businessmen and traders purchase new accounting books and start new account known as Haalkhata. People also worship Lord Ganesha by chanting mantras.
• Tamil Nadu- Puthandu marks the Tamil New Year’s Day and is celebrated in the beginning of Chithirai - the first month in the Tamil Calendar year. Tamil Nadu also celebrate Puthandu as the day when Lord Brahma- Hindu God brought the universe into existence.
• Kerala- Vishu Festival heralds the beginning of Malayalese. It falls on the first day in the Malayalam month of Medam. As per the Gregorian Calendar Vishu falls on the 14 April.

On Baisakhi Day, in the year 1699 that the Tenth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh founded Khalsa Panth or the Order of Pure Ones and gave a unique identity to Sikhs. On the same day the guru administered amrit (nectar) to his first batch of five disciples making them Singhs, a martial community. By doing so, he eliminated the differences of high and low and established that all human beings were equal.
The day of Baisakhi is of significance for the Hindus as it was on this day in 1875 that Swami Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj - a reformed sect of Hindus who are devoted to the Vedas for spiritual guidance and have discarded idol worship. Besides, Baisakhi day is of relevance for the Buddhists as Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment and Nirvana on this auspicious day.

Special pooja to obtain benefit

Baisakhi Festival falls on April 13th or April 14th and marks the beginning of the solar year. Astrologically, Baisakhi marks sun’s entry into Mesh Rashi. It is also known as Mesha Sankranti.
Vaishakh month (April-May), when the Sun is in exaltation, at its peak of brightness, which happens only once every year.
Giving ann and vastra daan on this day reduces the malefic effects of Mangal, surya. Persons going under mahadasa(main-period), antardardasa(sub-period) take benefit by giving daan/donations on Baisakhi. Bhandara of gur-pious removes the fear of fire for individual , society and area where it is conducted. Bhandara of gur payas(gur kheer) is Special benefit for removal of all doshas.