Aymara New Year 2026

June 21 marks the Aymara New Year (Willkakuti — 'Return of the Sun') and the Andean winter solstice. The most spectacular celebrations take place at the ancient ruins of Tiwanaku, near Lake Titicaca, where thousands of indigenous Aymara people gather before dawn. Yatiris (traditional healers) perform offerings to Pachamama (Mother Earth), and as the sun rises through the ancient Portal of the Sun at exactly 6:43am, the crowd extends hands skyward to receive the first rays of the new solar year.