Aymara New Year Day
Sunday, June 21, 2026
The Aymara New Year, called Willkakuti or 'Return of the Sun,' is celebrated on June 21 at the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. It is the most important ceremonial date for the Aymara people of Bolivia, Peru, and northern Chile, marking the beginning of a new agricultural cycle and the return of the sun god Inti.
History
The celebration dates back to the Tiwanaku civilization, which flourished from 400 to 1100 CE around Lake Titicaca. The Tiwanaku built temples aligned with the solstice sunrise, which remain central to the celebration today. The Inca later adopted the solstice observance as Inti Raymi. Spanish colonizers suppressed the ceremony, but it was revived in the 20th century and recognized as a national holiday in Bolivia in 2009.
How It's Celebrated
Thousands of indigenous people and tourists gather at the Tiwanaku archaeological site before dawn, facing east to receive the first rays of the solstice sun. Shamans perform ritual offerings to Pachamama (Earth Mother), including coca leaves, alcohol, and incense. Participants wear traditional woven clothing, play panpipes and drums, and dance as the sun rises.