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The Baisakhi or Vaisakhi Festival is celebrated as the Sikh New Year and is one of the most important and popular holidays for members of the Sikh religion.
According to the Gregorian calendar, Baisakhi falls on April 13 every year and on April 14 once in 36 years, to correspond with the Indian solar calendar.
In Sikhism, it is one of the most significant holidays in the Sikh calendar, as it also commemorates the establishment of the Khalsa-Saint soldiers to fight against tyranny and oppression.
Baisakhi Mela also marks the time for the harvest of wheat and other crops in the predominantly agricultural state of the Punjab in India.
Farmers in the Punjab enjoy feasts and dancing before they embark on the task of harvesting.
With large populations of people tracing their roots back to the Punjab, this festival is celebrated around the world, with one of the largest festivals outside of India held in Vancouver.
The Punjabi Canadian Roots Club of Merritt welcomes the whole community to come help them celebrate this important holiday.
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Baisakhi Mela dinner celebrates the harvest and Khalsa
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