The beautiful land of India is all about diverse traditions and deep-rooted spirituality. No matter if you travel to any part of the country, you can find different festivals. Some honour gods and goddesses while others can be about celebrating the cosmic energies. At times, festivals in India are not even dedicated to a particular deity but simply to a natural force. One such beautiful festival is the Ratha Saptami. It is purely dedicated to Surya, the Sun god. Ratha Saptami is an important day that falls in the Shukla paksha of the Magh month.
Considering the diversity in the country, Ratha Saptami is not limited to only Hindu devotees. It is celebrated in different regions with unique rituals, customs, prayers, and traditions. Despite the variation in the way people celebrate, the essence of this day remains the same: it is simply to pray to the Sun god and receive prosperity. So, let’s discover all the details about this day.
Ratha Saptami 2025 Timings and Date
Ratha Saptami generally falls on the 7th day of the waxing phase. The day is highly auspicious as it also has a scientific significance. Ratha Saptami symbolises the transition of the sun towards the northern hemisphere. This transition is called uttarayana. It is often regarded as the birth of the Sun god, which is why the festival is also known as Surya Jayanti.
Ratha Saptami for the year 2025 falls on the 4th of February, Tuesday. You can observe the day from 4:37 AM on 4th February. The Saptami Tithi (date) ends at 2:31 AM on 5th February. Devotees also engage in ritual bathing (snan). The Snan Muhurat timings are from 5:33 AM to 7:09 AM. If you wish to offer water to the Sun god known as Arghyadan, you can do that around 7:05 AM.
Legends and Mythologies associated with Ratha Saptami
1. Lord Surya and his Chariot
You must have come across pictures where Lord Surya is seen with seven horses on the chariot. That exactly is the core mythological explanation for the celebration of this day. According to the Hindu scriptures, Lord Surya is connected to energy, time, and wisdom.
The lord rides on a chariot with seven white horses symbolising the seven colours of the rainbow, days of the week and chakras of the body. The charioteer is known as Aruna, who is the guiding force of the sky. On this day, the celebration is to honour the celestial journey of the Sun. As the lord changes the direction of his chariot, the period of renewal and growth.
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2. King Yashovarma and his Son
Another legend associated with Ratha Saptami is the story of Yashovarma. It is believed that Yashovarma was a righteous and generous king in ancient times. He was known for his fairness and devotion to dharma. Despite his good values. He suffered from a deep sadness. He did not have any children to continue his heritage in the kingdom. After experiencing sorrow, he decided to strike up a conversation with a divine sage.
The sage said that the king had his past karmas leading to this misfortune. The sage advised him to pray to Lord Surya and observe the Ratha Saptami fast. After listening to the advice, he decided to worship Lord Surya on the auspicious day. Hence, Yashovarma did everything possible on the day. He took a bath before sunrise, performed Surya namaskar, and also recited the Aditya Hridayam. He observed a fast and later was blessed with a healthy son.
After a few years, his son was severely sick, and no medicine could cure him. Another time, the sage advised the king to observe the Ratha Saptami vrat to cure his son. As soon as the king completed his fasting, his son miraculously regained health. It is believed that Lord Surya helped in removing ailments and granting a long life to his devotees. Even in today’s time, the vrat is known for curing human suffering and blessing devotees with great health.
3. Birth of Sage Agastya
You might be surprised to believe how the births of divine sages are also connected to the day of Ratha Saptami. The legend suggests that a long time ago there was an imbalance in the world. While the Himalayan region was heavily populated, the southern lands remained unexplored. Watching this, Lord Shiva decided that a great sage must be born in the region to spread wisdom.
That’s when Lord Surya took the ultimate responsibility to perform the task. A couple named Mitra and Varuna were blessed with sage Agastya. He was one of the greatest sages in Hindu tradition. As he grew up, Sage Agastya decided to travel towards south India and spread his Vedic knowledge. As his birth is linked to this divine day, it is also known for spiritual awakening. It is believed that worshipping Lord Surya on this day brings intelligence and clarity.
Important Rituals on Ratha Saptami Day
1. Holy Bath
The day of Ratha Saptami remains incomplete without taking the holy bath. It is generally taken before sunrise, which is also known as saptami snan. This ritual is particularly followed as it helps get rid of negative karmas from the past life. It also promotes good health. The body and mind receive the divine energy from the sun right after the bath to perform the holy bath.
To do so, wake up before sunrise and visit a nearby river or lake. You can also do it at home by using clean water. You may chant any of the Surya Mantras while bathing. Make sure to face the east direction of the sun while bathing. Many devotees take a holy dip in the divine river of Ganga. If you also plan to do something similar, you can book hotels in Rishikesh or hotels in Haridwar for a comfortable journey.
2. Offering Arghya (water)
The next important ritual on Ratha Saptami is offering water to the Lord. It is done as a sign of showcasing gratitude and devotion to the Lord. Take a copper vessel and fill the water with red flowers, rice and sesame. Face in the east direction of the sun and slowly pour the water. You can also chant any of the Surya mantras while performing this. It is believed that this ritual energises the body and improves your eyesight.
3. Surya Namaskar
As the day is connected with health and mental wellness, performing Surya Namaskar on Ratha Saptami is considered auspicious. It is a 12-step salutation to the sun. The body aligns cosmic energy after performing this formation of yoga. It is believed that this ritual strengthens the body and increases flexibility along with inner peace. While performing Surya Namaskar, you can also chant the Aditya Hridayam for a spiritual aura.
4. Fasting
After doing it all, Ratha Saptami Vrat is something that you cannot forget! It is a one-day-long fast to purify your mind and body. Most devotees observe a complete Nirjala fast (only water). Some also choose to eat only fruits and milk-based products. Special wheat-based sweets and jaggery are prepared for the day.
5. Temple Celebrations
Ratha Saptami is a significant day across many famous temples in India. Temples dedicated to Lord Surya, specifically, are decorated with garlands. However, if you cannot visit one of the temples, you can also perform a small pooja at your home.
Place a Surya yantra or an image of Lord Surya on a clear altar. You can then offer red flowers, incense sticks, and turmeric. It is always best to offer a ghee lamp to the lord. You can either recite Surya Sahasranama or Aditya Hridayam. Perform a small aarti and distribute prasad. In this way, everyone around you receives the blessings of Lord Surya.
Ratha Saptami Celebrations Across the Country
1. South India
Ratha Saptami is observed in several ways in different parts of India. Talking about South India, Ratha Saptami is a grand celebration in this part. Devotees wake up before sunrise and take a ritual bath. They generally place 7 arkas (calotropis) leaves on their heads, shoulders, and chest. It is believed this ritual cleanses sins and offers good health.
You can even visit the Tirupati Balaji Temple in Andhra Pradesh as Ratha Saptami is celebrated in a comprehensive manner. The temple generally organises Surya Prabhavahana Seva, where Lord Venkateswara is taken out for a grand procession. Just like the Jagannath Rath Yatra, the deity in the chariot symbolises the sun. Several devotees across the state join the procession to showcase their love and devotion to Lord Sun. It is best to book affordable hotels in Tirupati for a wonderful stay.
People in Tamil Nadu specifically visit Suryanar Kovil, which is one of the famous Sun temples in India. The visit is to perform special poojas. When we talk about Karnataka, you can observe people observing Surya Namaskar (sun salutation). They even recite Aditya Hridayam (devotional for the festival) praising the Sun.
2. North India
Ratha Saptami is also a significant festival in the northern part of the country. Devotees across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan generally observe fast and offer water to the sun during sunrise. Ratha Saptami is similar to Chhath Puja, as both reinforce the reverence of the sun in North Indian culture.
3. West India
Coming to Maharashtra, Ratha Saptami is celebrated with a lot of love and special sweets. The sweets are generally prepared with sesame and jaggery due to the Maharashtrian influence. Most devotees visit the Shani Shingnapur Temple, as it is dedicated to Lord Saturn, who is considered to be the son of Lord Surya. Another important state is Gujarat, where the festival is celebrated in selected regions. To pay your respects, visit the Modhera Sun Temple, located in the Mehsana district.
4. East India
In the eastern part of India, particularly Odisha and West Bengal, Ratha Saptami is celebrated as an agricultural festival. As it marks the transition of the Sun, it is a super important day for farmers. On this day, they pray for a good harvest for the coming season. You can visit the Konark Sun Temple in Odisha to offer your prayers. It is best to book budget-friendly hotels in Puri for a comfortable stay.
Significance of Ratha Saptami
- Ratha Saptami is especially linked as a symbol of light and knowledge. Hence, this day is all about gaining truth and wisdom from the Lord.
- It is also believed that the divine energies of the sun remove ignorance and ailments leading to spiritual enlightenment for devotees.
- Worshipping Lord Surya on this day also helps clear past sins and brings the devotees closer to the path of liberation.
- As the festival falls during the Magh month, it marks a new beginning for farmers. That is exactly why it is important for them to worship the Lord and pray for good harvest.
- The day is about maintaining harmony with nature in different manners. It supports biodiversity and regulates seasons due to the sun’s increasing warmth. Hence, the festival creates a balance between nature and humans.
Receive Blessings on Ratha Saptami!
Ratha Saptami stands as a strong example of how the country celebrates nature-centric festivals. From the southern states to the northern ones, every destination in the country celebrates the day with great joy. You get to witness various Indian traditions in a mesmerising manner despite the regional differences.
What makes the Saptami a great day is the gratitude and spiritual awakening among devotees. The auspicious day reminds everyone to think beyond regional differences and respect the forms of nature with complete purity. It is best to visit one of the nearby temples to offer your prayers and receive blessings from the lord on this day.
