The shortest day of the year in India
VerifiedAnswer: 21 December
Explanation:
The shortest day of the year in India falls on December 21st, which is known as the Winter Solstice. This astronomical event marks a significant moment in Earth's yearly journey around the Sun and has important implications for daylight hours across the country.
During the winter solstice, the Sun reaches its southernmost position in the sky as viewed from Earth. This happens because our planet is tilted at an angle of approximately 23.5 degrees on its axis. When the Northern Hemisphere (where India is located) is tilted away from the Sun, it receives the least amount of direct sunlight, resulting in the shortest day and longest night of the year.
On December 21st in India, the Sun appears at its lowest point in the sky during noon. The exact duration of daylight varies across different regions of the country due to India's vast geographical span. Northern cities like Delhi experience approximately 10 hours and 19 minutes of daylight, while southern cities like Chennai get about 11 hours and 14 minutes. This difference occurs because locations closer to the equator experience less variation in daylight hours throughout the year.
The winter solstice has deep cultural and historical significance in India. Many ancient temples and monuments were constructed with precise astronomical alignments to mark this important date. The gradual shortening of days leading up to December 21st has been observed by Indian astronomers and scholars for thousands of years, influencing agricultural practices, festivals, and traditional calendars.
After December 21st, an interesting phenomenon begins – the days start getting longer again. This happens gradually, with each passing day receiving slightly more sunlight than the previous one. Ancient civilizations celebrated this turning point as it signaled the eventual return of longer, warmer days and the promise of spring.
It's worth noting that while December 21st is generally recognized as the winter solstice date, it can occasionally fall on December 20th or 22nd due to the way our calendar system accounts for Earth's orbital period. However, in most years, December 21st remains the standard date for this astronomical event in India and across the Northern Hemisphere.
