Why Is Uttarayan and Dakshinayana Celebrated? Uttarayan and Dakshinayan Dates 2023

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Uttarayan is a Hindu festival in celebration of the winter solstice and the transition to springtime, as well as the harvest. Uttarayan refers to the period when the sun moves towards the northern hemisphere, beginning on Makar Sankranti (January 14) and lasting for six months

The term Uttarāyaṇa (commonly Uttarayan) is derived from two different Sanskrit words – “Uttara” (north) and “Ayana” (movement), indicating the semantics of the northward movement of the sun on the celestial sphere.

We can say that the Sun changes positions twice a year because there are two Solstices or Ayans in a calendar year. The summer solstice and the winter solstice are known as Uttarayan and Dakshinayan, respectively. It starts on Makar Sankranti Day, which is seen as a symbol of optimism. Sun moves from Capricorn to Cancer during this time, or from south to north.

Makar Sankranti is the traditional name for Uttarayan, which is celebrated under a variety of names in India. This is the harvest season. Basically, it is the sun’s journey from south to north.
Every year on January 14, a set day of the solar calendar, India celebrates Makar Sankranti. The sun starts moving away from the Tropic of Capricorn and toward the Northern Hemisphere on this day. It also goes by the name Uttarayan.