Willkakuti

Willkakuti^[1] (Aymara for Return of the Sun), Machaq Mara (Aymara for New Year), Mara T'aqa, Jach'a Laymi or Pacha Kuti^[2] (in Spanish named Año Nuevo Andino Amazónico (Andean-Amazonic New Year)) is an Aymara celebration in Bolivia, Chile^[3] and the Puno Region of Southern Peru^[2] which takes place annually on 21 June, commemorating the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere.

Wilancha (sacrifice) in Wilaqala on Willkakuti celebrated on June 21

It was declared a national holiday in Bolivia in 2009 by the government of Evo Morales.^[4] In 2013, when the year 5521 of the Aymara calendar was marked, Willkakuti was celebrated in more than 200 places, among them Inkallaqta, Inka Raqay, Samaypata and Uyuni.^[5] Its major celebration hub is Tiwanaku.

See also

• Inti Punku (Gate of the Sun)
• Indigenous peoples of the Americas
• Inti Raymi
• Tiwanaku