In short
- Ratha Saptami 2027
- Saturday, 13 February 2027
- Tithi
- Magh Shukla SaptamiMagha Shukla Saptami (amanta)
- Observed for
- Health, energy and freedom from illness
What is it? Surya’s birthday, on Magha Shukla Saptami.
Why do families keep it? The Sun’s chariot, drawn by seven horses, is said to turn northward; the day marks the start of warmer, longer days and of harvest.
What happens on the day? A bath before sunrise with seven ekka leaves on the head, arghya to the rising sun, a rangoli of the chariot, and a sweet pongal naivedya.
When to observe Ratha Saptami in 2027
| Saptami tithi begins | Sat, 13 Feb, 03:00 AM |
|---|---|
| Saptami tithi ends | Sun, 14 Feb, 02:07 AM |
| Abhyanga snana (before sunrise) | 05:07 AM – 06:43 AMThe oil bath is taken in the dark before sunrise, while the tithi is running. |
| Sunrise | 06:43 AM |
| Rahu Kaala — keep aside | 09:38 AM – 11:06 AM |
What Ratha Saptami means
Seven leaves
Seven ekka (arka) leaves, with a little rice and sesame, are placed on the head during the bath — one for each of the Sun’s horses and, tradition says, for the wrongs of seven births.
The Sun is the visible god
Surya needs no idol: he is seen every morning. Ratha Saptami is the day to thank him.
Ratha Saptami in temples
Many Karnataka temples hold rathotsavas around this day, and Tirumala holds the one-day Brahmotsava.
Surya’s birth
Who is in it: Surya, Aditi and Kashyapa, Aruna, the charioteer
Surya is one of the twelve Adityas, the sons of Aditi and the rishi Kashyapa. Tradition places his birth on Magha Shukla Saptami.
His chariot has one wheel, for the year, and seven horses, for the seven colours of light and the seven metres of the Veda. Aruna, the dawn, drives it.
On this day the chariot is said to turn northward, and the warmth of the year begins.
What it teaches: Thank what gives you light every day. Begin early.
Ratha Saptami puja at home, step by step
Getting ready
- 1Collect seven ekka (arka) leaves the evening before.
- 2Draw a rangoli of a chariot with seven horses at the door.
The puja
- 1Before sunrise, take a bath with the seven leaves, a little rice and black sesame placed on the head, saying the Saptami shloka.
- 2Face the rising sun and offer arghya — water from a copper vessel, with red flowers and akshate.
- 3Chant the Surya mantra twelve times, with a namaskara each time if you can.
- 4Offer sweet pongal or payasa as naivedya.
Closing the puja
- 1Share the naivedya.
- 2Begin a habit of morning sun — a walk, Surya namaskara — from today.
What to keep ready for Ratha Saptami
Must have
| What | How much | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Ekka (arka) leaves | 7 per person | The bath |
| Rice and black sesame | A pinch | Placed on the leaves |
| Copper vessel, water, red flowers | 1 | Arghya |
| Jaggery and rice | As needed | Sweet pongal naivedya |
Good to have
| What | How much | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Aditya Hridayam book | — | Reading after the arghya |
Family and regional customs
| What | How much | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Rangoli powder | — | The Ratha (chariot) rangoli |
Good practice, and what to avoid
Please do
- Bathe before sunrise.
- Offer arghya facing the rising sun.
Best avoided
- Sleep past sunrise.
- Stare at the sun — offer the arghya with eyes lowered.
Chants for Ratha Saptami
Saptami snana shloka
यद्यज्जन्मकृतं पापं मया सप्तसु जन्मसु।
तन्मे रोगं च शोकं च माकरी हन्तु सप्तमी॥
ಕನ್ನಡ ಲಿಪಿಯಲ್ಲಿ
ಯದ್ಯಜ್ಜನ್ಮಕೃತಂ ಪಾಪಂ ಮಯಾ ಸಪ್ತಸು ಜನ್ಮಸು।
ತನ್ಮೇ ರೋಗಂ ಚ ಶೋಕಂ ಚ ಮಾಕರೀ ಹನ್ತು ಸಪ್ತಮೀ॥
yadyajjanmakṛtaṃ pāpaṃ mayā saptasu janmasu| tanme rogaṃ ca śokaṃ ca mākarī hantu saptamī||
What it means: Whatever wrong I have done in seven births — may this Magha Saptami take away its illness and its sorrow.
Surya mantra
ॐ घृणिः सूर्याय नमः
ಕನ್ನಡ ಲಿಪಿಯಲ್ಲಿ
ಓಂ ಘೃಣಿಃ ಸೂರ್ಯಾಯ ನಮಃ
oṃ ghṛṇiḥ sūryāya namaḥ
What it means: A bow to the radiant Sun.
Ratha Saptami from region to region
Karnataka
Arka-leaf bath, chariot rangoli and sweet pongal; rathotsavas at many temples.
Andhra Pradesh
Arasavalli Surya temple and the one-day Brahmotsava at Tirumala.
Odisha
Konark’s Magha Saptami mela at the Sun temple.
Have the Ratha Saptami puja done for you
Two ways to do it. At a temple: the pandit takes your family’s name and gotra in the sankalpa and sends you the photos and video. At home: a pandit from our panel comes to you with the vidhi, and you sit for the puja yourself.
Where this comes from
- Bhavishya Purana for Ratha Saptami.
- Aditya Hridayam (Valmiki Ramayana, Yuddha Kanda 107).
- The Saptami snana shloka as recited in Karnataka and Andhra.
How we work out the dates: Stuti Mandir’s own panchanga engine places the Sun and Moon (Lahiri ayanamsa) and checks the tithi against sunrise, sunset and moonrise in Bengaluru, in IST. A printed panchanga may differ by a minute or so. Where your family’s panchanga or your purohita says otherwise, go with them.
Questions devotees ask us
When is Ratha Saptami 2027?
Saturday, 13 February 2027. In Bengaluru, Magha Shukla Saptami (amanta; Magh Shukla Saptami in the North Indian count) begins Sat, 13 Feb, 03:00 AM and ends Sun, 14 Feb, 02:07 AM IST.
Will Mysuru and Delhi keep Ratha Saptami on the same day?
Mostly yes. But the sun rises and sets at different times in different towns, and a habba is kept on the day its tithi is running at the right hour — so timings shift, and once in a while the date does too. Change the town above to see yours.
Where do I find ekka leaves?
Arka (Calotropis) grows wild in open ground; flower markets sell them the day before. Handle with care — the sap irritates eyes.