Hyderabad Welcomes Winter Solstice – the Shortest Day Ushers In Gradual Renewal
Though primarily an astronomical phenomenon, Dr Chandra noted its subtle integration into the regional context, aligning with Hindu transitions like the end of Dakshinayana.
Hyderabad: Hyderabadis marked the year’s shortest day, and longest night, on Sunday. This was the winter solstice, the day the Sun reaches its southernmost point in the sky before commencing its northern journey.
Sunrise occurred at 6.42 am and sunset at 5.47 pm, yielding about 11 hours of daylight — roughly two hours less than during the summer solstice — and over 13 hours of darkness. The city’s tropical latitude of 17°N tempers the effect, delivering mild daytime temperature, cold nights and hazy mornings.
An astrophysicist, Dr Aadhya Chandra, observed that the winter solstice marks the moment when Earth's axial tilt of approximately 23.4° positions the Northern Hemisphere, including Hyderabad, farthest from the Sun.
Though primarily an astronomical phenomenon, Dr Chandra noted its subtle integration into the regional context, aligning with Hindu transitions like the end of Dakshinayana.
India observes the solstice through ancient astronomical alignments in temples, tying into agricultural calendars and festivals like Makar Sankranti in the coming days.