Baisakhi

Baisakhi or Vaisakhi Festival is one of the major festivals of Sikh community. For Punjab being the large farming community, Baisakhi is celebrated as harvest of Rabi crop.
           

                                                image source: google images (liveindia.com)

Baisakhi festival is celebrated as Sikh New Year. According to english calender, it falls on 13 April every year and on 14 April once in 36 year. This difference in date is due to the fact that date of Baisakhi is counted according to the solar calender.
                            Baisakhi is celebrated all over India in different states under different rituals like "Rongali Bihu" in Assam, "Naba Barsha" in Bengal, "Puthandu" in Tamil Nadu and "Pooram Vishu" in Kerala.

Baisakhi is considered as a extremely important festival in India for it is also foundation day of "Khalsa Panth". In the year 1699, it was Baisakhi day when Tenth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh founded Khalsa Panth or the Order of Pure Ones to give unique identity to Sikhs.

Sikhs celebrate Baisakhi by participating in special prayers in Gurudwaras and carry out joyful Baisakhi procession to mark the day.