Friday was the shortest day and longest night of the year due to ‘Winter Solstice” that occurred at 8.57 am. This time transition happens on December 21 or December 22 every year as part of the season change. As a result, the shortest daylight hours occur in the Northern Hemisphere. The Winter Solstice was also the beginning of Chillai Kalan, the 40-day harshest winter period in Kashmir when there are maximum chances of snow and rains.  In Delhi, the Sun rose at 7.09 am, and set at 5.29 pm, making the day 10 hours, 19 minutes, and 17 seconds long.

In Amritsar, the Sun rose at 7.29 am and set at 5.30 pm , making the day 10 hours, 05 minutes and 13 seconds long. In Gangtok, the Sun rose at 6.21 am and set at 4.46 pm, making the day 10 hours 24 minutes and 59 seconds. In Kolkata, the Sun rose at 6.12 am and set at 4.57 pm, making the day 10 hours, 45 minutes and 07 seconds.  In Mumbai, the Sun rose at 7.07 am and set at 6.06 pm , making the day 10 hours, 59 minutes and 29 seconds. In Kanyakumari, the Sun rose at 6.28 am and set at 6.17 pm making the day 11 hours, 39 minutes and 22 seconds. In Bengaluru, the Sun rose at 6.39 am and set at 5.59 pm, making the day 11 hours,  21 minutes and 53 seconds.

The Winter Solstice is also the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, and the longest day and shortest night of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.

During the winter solstice, the Northern Hemisphere receives indirect sunlight, and the day is shorter than 12 hours, while the Southern Hemisphere receives direct sunlight. It is the beginning of  summer in the Southern Hemisphere.