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PHOTOS: How Baisakhi 2015 Was Celebrated In India

22 Colourful Photos of Baisakhi Celebrations This Year
An Indian Sikh devotee (L) takes photographs of a Nihang (Sikh religious warrior) at the Sikh shrine Golden Temple in Amritsar on April 14, 2015. Baisakhi is a festival celebrated in the Punjab region, coinciding with other festivals celebrated on the first day of Vaisakh such as the Tamil and Bengali New Year. AFP PHOTO/NARINDER NANU (Photo credit should read NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images)
NARINDER NANU via Getty Images
An Indian Sikh devotee (L) takes photographs of a Nihang (Sikh religious warrior) at the Sikh shrine Golden Temple in Amritsar on April 14, 2015. Baisakhi is a festival celebrated in the Punjab region, coinciding with other festivals celebrated on the first day of Vaisakh such as the Tamil and Bengali New Year. AFP PHOTO/NARINDER NANU (Photo credit should read NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images)

Baisakhi marks the first day of spring and the end of wheat harvest in India. Farmers, especially in Punjab and Haryana, express their gratitude for a good harvest and pray for prosperity in the coming year. Usually, this includes waking up early to take a dip in holy water, wearing colourful clothes, and dancing. It is also the day of the Punjabi new year.

Baisakhi also has special significance amongst the Sikh population, as they celebrate it also as Guru Gobind Singh's birthday and the foundation of the Khalsa, i.e. the Sikh brotherhood in 1699. Here are some photos from this year's Baisakhi celebrations.

AP Photo / Manish Swarup
Indian Sikhs wait to offer prayers at a Sikh temple on Baisakhi, in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, April 14, 2015. Baisakhi, the harvest festival celebrated in the Punjab region also coincides with other festivals celebrated on the first day of Indian calendar month Vaisakh. The festival has special significance for Sikhs since it marks the day in 1699, when their tenth Guru Gobind Singh organized the order of the Khalsa, a collective body of initiated Sikhs.
AP Photo / Manish Swarup
Indian Sikhs prepare food for devotees at a Sikh temple on Baisakhi, in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, April 14, 2015. Baisakhi, the harvest festival celebrated in the Punjab region also coincides with other festivals celebrated on the first day of Indian calendar month Vaisakh. The festival has special significance for Sikhs since it marks the day in 1699, when their tenth Guru Gobind Singh organized the order of the Khalsa, a collective body of initiated Sikhs.
AP Photo / Manish Swarup
Indian Sikhs offer prayers at a Sikh temple on Baisakhi, in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, April 14, 2015. Baisakhi, the harvest festival celebrated in the Punjab region also coincides with other festivals celebrated on the first day of Indian calendar month Vaisakh. The festival has special significance for Sikhs since it marks the day in 1699, when their tenth Guru Gobind Singh organized the order of the Khalsa, a collective body of initiated Sikhs.
AP Photo / Manish Swarup
Indian Sikhs gather to offer prayers at a Sikh temple on Baisakhi, in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, April 14, 2015. Baisakhi, the harvest festival celebrated in the Punjab region also coincides with other festivals celebrated on the first day of Indian calendar month Vaisakh. The festival has special significance for Sikhs since it marks the day in 1699, when their tenth Guru Gobind Singh organized the order of the Khalsa, a collective body of initiated Sikhs.
AP Photo / Manish Swarup
An Indian Sikh woman, left distributes food to devotees at a Sikh temple on Baisakhi, in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, April 14, 2015. Baisakhi, the harvest festival celebrated in the Punjab region also coincides with other festivals celebrated on the first day of Indian calendar month Vaisakh. The festival has special significance for Sikhs since it marks the day in 1699, when their tenth Guru Gobind Singh organized the order of the Khalsa, a collective body of initiated Sikhs.
India Festival
AP Photo / Manish Swarup
Indian Sikhs offer prayers at a Sikh temple on Baisakhi, in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, April 14, 2015. Baisakhi, the harvest festival celebrated in the Punjab region also coincides with other festivals celebrated on the first day of Indian calendar month Vaisakh. The festival has special significance for Sikhs since it marks the day in 1699, when their tenth Guru Gobind Singh organized the order of the Khalsa, a collective body of initiated Sikhs.
AP Photo / Manish Swarup
Indian Sikhs prepare food for devotees at a Sikh temple on Baisakhi, in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, April 14, 2015. Baisakhi, the harvest festival celebrated in the Punjab region also coincides with other festivals celebrated on the first day of Indian calendar month Vaisakh. The festival has special significance for Sikhs since it marks the day in 1699, when their tenth Guru Gobind Singh organized the order of the Khalsa, a collective body of initiated Sikhs.
AP Photo/Channi Anand
Indian Sikh warriors display traditional martial art skills during a procession ahead of Baisakhi festival in Jammu, India, Sunday, April 12, 2015.
NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images
Indian Sikh devotees and chefs prepare 'Jalebi' sweets for free distribution to devotees during the Baisakhi festival celebrations held at Langar Ghar, a community hall at the Golden temple in Amritsar on April 14, 2015. Baisakhi, which is celebrated in the Punjab region, coincides with other festivals celebrated on the first day of Vaisakh, in some regions of India such as Puthandu, the Tamil New Year. Baisakhi is especially important for the Sikh community as it marks the establishment of the Khalsa.
NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images
An Indian Sikh devotee puts 'Jalebi' sweets in plastic packets for free distribution to devotees during the Baisakhi festival celebrations held at Langar Ghar, a community hall at the Golden temple in Amritsar on April 14, 2015. Baisakhi, which is celebrated in the Punjab region, coincides with other festivals celebrated on the first day of Vaisakh, in some regions of India such as Puthandu, the Tamil New Year. Baisakhi is especially important for the Sikh community as it marks the establishment of the Khalsa.
NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images
Indian Sikh devotees eat a communal vegetarian meal, known as 'langar' (free food) in a community hall during the Baisakhi festival celebrations held at Langar Ghar, a community hall at the Golden temple in Amritsar on April 14, 2015. Baisakhi, which is celebrated in the Punjab region, coincides with other festivals celebrated on the first day of Vaisakh, in some regions of India such as Puthandu, the Tamil New Year. Baisakhi is especially important for the Sikh community as it marks the establishment of the Khalsa.
NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images
An Indian Sikh devotee dips her son in the holy sarover (water tank) at the Sikh shrine Golden Temple in Amritsar on April 14, 2015. Baisakhi is a festival celebrated in the Punjab region, coinciding with other festivals celebrated on the first day of Vaisakh such as the Tamil and Bengali New Year.
NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images
Indian Sikh devotees pay respects at the Sikh shrine Golden Temple in Amritsar on April 14, 2015. Baisakhi is a festival celebrated in the Punjab region, coinciding with other festivals celebrated on the first day of Vaisakh such as the Tamil and Bengali New Year.
NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images
An Indian Sikh devotee takes a dip in the holy sarover (water tank) at the Sikh shrine Golden Temple in Amritsar on April 14, 2015. Baisakhi is a festival celebrated in the Punjab region, coinciding with other festivals celebrated on the first day of Vaisakh such as the Tamil and Bengali New Year.
NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images
An Indian Sikh Nihang (Sikh religious warrior) pays respects at the Sikh shrine Golden Temple in Amritsar on April 14, 2015. Baisakhi is a festival celebrated in the Punjab region, coinciding with other festivals celebrated on the first day of Vaisakh such as the Tamil and Bengali New Year.
NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images
Indian Sikh devotees take a dip in the holy sarover (water tank) at the Sikh shrine Golden Temple in Amritsar on April 14, 2015. Baisakhi is a festival celebrated in the Punjab region, coinciding with other festivals celebrated on the first day of Vaisakh such as the Tamil and Bengali New Year.
NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images
Indian school children perform during a celebration of the Baisakhi festival at a school in Amritsar on April 13, 2015. Baisakhi is a harvest festival celebrated in the Punjab region and coincides with other festivals celebrated on the first day of Vaisakh in some regions of India such as Puthandu, the Tamil New Year.
Arif Ali/AFP/Getty Images
Indian Sikh pilgrims arrive at Wagah Railway Station in Wagah on April 11, 2015. The first batch of Sikh pilgrims arrived in Pakistan from India via the Wagah border to celebrate the Baisakhi festival that marks the arrival of harvest season.
FAROOQ NAEEM/AFP/Getty Images
Sikh pilgrims prepare food in Gurdwara Panja Sahib, a shrine of Sikh community's spiritual saint in Hasan Abdal, 48 kilometres from Rawalpindi, on April 11, 2015. Vaisakhi (also spelled Baisakhi) is the festival to celebrate the founding of the Sikh community known as the Khalsa.
FAROOQ NAEEM/AFP/Getty Images
Sikh pilgrims take a holy dip in Gurdwara Panja Sahib, a shrine of Sikh community's spiritual saint, in Hasan Abdal, 48 kilometres from Rawalpindi, on April 11, 2015. Vaisakhi (also spelled Baisakhi) is the festival to celebrate the founding of the Sikh community known as the Khalsa.
FAROOQ NAEEM/AFP/Getty Images
A Sikh pilgrim gives holy dip to his son in Gurdwara Panja Sahib, a shrine of the Sikh community's spiritual saint, in Hasan Abdal, 48 kilometres from Rawalpindi, on April 11, 2015. Vaisakhi (also spelled Baisakhi) is the festival to celebrate the founding of the Sikh community known as the Khalsa.
NARINDER NANU/AFP/Getty Images
Indian Sikh pilgrims pose for a photograph after boarding a train for Pakistan at a railway station in Amritsar on April 11, 2015. Thousands of Indian Sikh pilgrims were expected to arrive in Pakistan from India to celebrate Baisakhi, or the Sikh New Year, at the Sikh Shrine of Gurudwara Panja Sahib and Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Sikh faith founder Guru Nanak Dev, some 75 km southwest of Lahore.
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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.