Baisakhi, is a festival of the farmers that falls on the 14^th April and marks the beginning of the new solar year.

 Just before Baisakhi, the first crop of the year, the Rabi crop (specially the wheat), is harvested and sold. Consequently, the farmer has ample money in his pocket. He is happy and has time for family and friends. He first thanks the Almighty for his blessing of a bumper crop. On the festive day the farmer goes for a big bath in the morning in a river or a tank and then he goes to temple or Gurudwara (temple for the Sikhs) to offer sweet and money to the deity or congregation.  Big melas (fairs) are arranged and transactions of farm animals are done during the mela.

 Traditional people give charities on this day to the Brahmin and the poor in order to get better returns in the following year and a place in the heaven.

 For the Sikh community, Baisakhi represents a very sanctified day. It is on this day Guru Gobind Singh initiated the Panch Piyara (the five loved ones) from different casts and different parts of India. He also made them promise the five “Ks” that the Sikhs must wear: Kesh (hair), Kacha (a special undergarment), Kripan (dagger), Kangha (comb), and Kara (bangle). There are many Sikhs who cut off their hair and are called Mona Sikh. Guru Nanak was the founder of Sikh religion.

 It is the time when the Sikhs remember all the promises they made when they joined the brotherhood of Sikhs. It is also the time when new members join the religion. As they join, they are baptized with sweet water known as amrit. They agree to take a new name. All Sikh men become known as Singh, which means lion, and all Sikh women take the last name of Kaur, which means princess.

 Before the ceremony there are prayers and readings from the holy book, the Granth Sahib. The ceremony is followed by a feast of vegetarian meal in a special room in the temple.