Vaisakhi is the Punjabi spring harvest festival celebrated in India and Pakistan.
Vaisakhi traditionally marks the ripening and harvesting of the winter wheat crop in Punjab. It is observed on April 13 or 14, depending on the solar calendar and the year. Farmers give thanks, communities hold fairs, and people gather for music, dancing, processions, and religious observances.
Vaisakhi also has major significance in Sikh history. On Vaisakhi in 1699, Guru Gobind Singh founded the Khalsa at Anandpur Sahib, creating a distinct community of initiated Sikhs. Sikh gurdwaras therefore hold especially important services and processions on the festival.
The festival has both agricultural and religious meanings. It is not simply another name for Lohri, a winter festival associated with the end of winter, nor is it identical to Bihu, the Assamese seasonal festival.