What is Vaisakhi?

Vaisakhi is the holiest day of the calendar for over 20 million Sikhs worldwide. The festival holds particular significance for the Sikh community as it commemorates the birth of the Sikh nation.

On this day in 1699 Guru Gobind Singh created a sacred community called the Khalsa, or the 'pure ones', thus completing the work of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism.

Based on the lunar calendar, Vaisakhi traditionally falls around the 13 - 14 April. The celebration serves a dual purpose, for while it remains a festive occasion for Sikhs, it is also viewed as the beginning of the harvest season, indicating a time of happiness. Click here if you would like to learn more about the history of Vaisakhi.

Events of 1699