Karka Sankranti

Date on the Indian calendar marking
the sun’s transition into the zodiacal
sign of Cancer, and thus, the beginning
of the dakshinayana, the six months in
which the sun is traveling toward the
south. In Western astrology this happens
during the summer solstice (around
June 21), but in Indian reckoning it
occurs around July 14. The discrepancy
arises due to the different ways in which
the two systems mark the beginning of
the astrological year. In Western astrology
the beginning of the year is based on the
sun’s position in relation to the earth
and occurs during the vernal equinox
(around March 21). In Indian reckoning
the starting point of the zodiac comes
when the sun intersects the midpoint of
a group of stars named Ashvini, and is
based on the position of the sun with
regard to fixed stars. Karka Sankranti is
not marked by significant observances,
unlike Makara Sankranti, which occurs
six months earlier, marking the
beginning of the sun’s northward
journey (uttarayana). The southern
direction is associated with the god
Yama, who is death personified. Thus,
this southward movement is considered
less auspicious than its northward
counterpart.