Seasons
June Solstice 2026 ग्रीष्म अयनांत
The Longest Day of the Year
Sunday, 21 June 2026
The June solstice is the day the sun stands over the Tropic of Cancer, giving India its longest day and shortest night of the year.
How the date is fixed: The moment the sun reaches its northernmost point over the Tropic of Cancer; 20 or 21 June each year
Why June Solstice is celebrated
The June solstice is an astronomical event, not a festival. The Earth's axis is tilted by about 23.4 degrees, so through the year the sun appears to move north and south of the equator. On the solstice it reaches its northernmost point. In 2026 this happens on 21 June at 1:55 pm Indian time.
For anyone in the northern hemisphere, including all of India, this is the longest day. The further north you live, the longer it is. Dehradun gets about 14 hours 6 minutes of daylight, Delhi just under 14 hours, Mumbai about 13 hours 17 minutes and Chennai about 12 hours 54 minutes.
History and story of June Solstice
The Tropic of Cancer passes through eight Indian states: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram. At noon on the solstice, places on this line see the sun directly overhead and objects cast almost no shadow. The old observatory city of Ujjain lies close to this line, which is one reason Indian astronomers studied the sun's path there.
Astronomically, the sun begins its southward journey, Dakshinayana, from this day. Indian festival calendars use a sidereal zodiac, so the traditional start of Dakshinayana, Karka Sankranti, now falls in mid July. International Day of Yoga is held on 21 June partly because it is the longest day.
How June Solstice is celebrated
There are no religious rituals tied to the solstice in India. Many people join yoga sessions on International Day of Yoga, and science clubs hold shadow measuring activities.
Important days and moments
- Solstice moment (21 June 2026 (Sunday), 1:55 pm IST)
The sun reaches its northernmost point, directly over the Tropic of Cancer. - International Day of Yoga (21 June 2026)
Yoga sessions are held across India and abroad on the longest day of the year. - Shadowless noon (Around midday on the solstice)
Places on the Tropic of Cancer see the sun overhead, and vertical objects cast almost no shadow.
Other names and related festivals
- Longest Day of the Year
- Northern Solstice
- Summer Solstice
December Solstice 22 Dec 2026
Frequently asked questions
When is June Solstice in 2026?
June Solstice falls on Sunday, 21 June 2026.
Is June Solstice a bank holiday?
June Solstice falls on a Sunday in 2026, when banks are closed anyway.
Is June Solstice a central government holiday?
No. June Solstice is not on the 2026 list of central government holidays. In 2026 it falls on a Sunday, when central government offices are closed anyway.
Is the stock market closed on June Solstice?
June Solstice falls on a Sunday, when the markets are closed anyway.
What are the other names of June Solstice?
June Solstice is also known as Longest Day of the Year, Northern Solstice, Summer Solstice.
Is 21 June the longest day in India?
Yes, the June solstice gives the longest daylight of the year across India. In 2026 it falls on 21 June.
Why is the day longest on the solstice?
The Earth's tilt points the northern hemisphere most towards the sun at this time. The sun takes its highest and longest path across the sky.
Is the June solstice the same as Dakshinayana?
Astronomically, the sun starts moving south from this day. Traditional Indian calendars mark Dakshinayana from Karka Sankranti in mid July because they follow the sidereal zodiac.
Next Seasons festivals (30 days)
No other festival in the next 30 days.
Upcoming central government holidays
Holidays in your state
Bank, state government and school holidays differ from state to state. Pick your state:
Holidays and festivals calendar: October and November 2026
Central government holidays for all of India and major festivals. For bank, state government and school holidays, open your state: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal.
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2
Friday, 2 October Gandhi Jayanti Gandhi Jayanti on 2 October marks the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of India's freedom struggle and the voice of truth and non-violence. |
3 | 4 | |||
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11
Sunday, 11 October Sharad Navratri Sharad Navratri is the nine night autumn festival of the Goddess Durga, beginning with Ghatasthapana and leading up to Dussehra, with fasting, prayer, garba... |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17
Saturday, 17 October Durga Puja Durga Puja celebrates Goddess Durga's victory over the demon Mahishasura with grand pandals, dhak drums, prayers and feasts, especially in West Bengal and ea... |
18 |
| 19 | 20
Tuesday, 20 October Dussehra Dussehra, or Vijayadashami, celebrates the victory of good over evil, recalling Lord Rama's defeat of Ravana and Goddess Durga's triumph over Mahishasura. |
21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ||||||
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8
Sunday, 8 November Diwali Diwali, the festival of lights, celebrates the victory of light over darkness with Lakshmi Puja, rows of diyas, sweets and family gatherings on the new moon... |
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15
Sunday, 15 November Chhath Puja Chhath Puja is a four day festival of Bihar and eastern India in which devotees fast and offer arghya to the setting and rising Sun while standing in water. |
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| 23 | 24
Tuesday, 24 November Guru Nanak Jayanti Guru Nanak Jayanti, or Prakash Purab, celebrates the birth of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism, with prayers, nagar kirtans, langar and lit up gurdw... |
25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| 30 |
Public holiday Major festival Today
- Sat, 17 Oct
Durga Puja - Tue, 20 Oct
Dussehra - Sun, 8 Nov
Diwali - Sun, 15 Nov
Chhath Puja - Tue, 24 Nov
Guru Nanak Jayanti