Ratha Saptami is the seventh day of the bright half of the month Gujaratis call Maha. It is kept as the birthday of Surya and the day his chariot turns north. The observance is a quiet one: a bath at sunrise, water offered to the Sun, and a fast for health. Gujarat's great monument to him stands at Modhera, built by the Solanki king Bhima I in 1026.
The story
The temple at Modhera is aligned so that at the equinoxes the rising Sun shone straight through the hall on to the image in the sanctum. Before it lies the Surya Kund, a tank whose steps are set with a hundred and eight small shrines.
The Sun is worshipped for health and sight. The vow of this day is also called Arogya Saptami, and Surya Namaskar is done facing east.
How it is kept
- SnanA bath at sunrise, with leaves of the akda plant placed on the head in the old custom.
- ArghyaWater is offered to the rising Sun from a copper vessel.
- The fastMany keep it on fruit, without salt.
- Surya NamaskarTwelve salutations, for the twelve names of the Sun.
Why this date
Ratha Saptami is the Saptami of the bright half of Maha (Magha), on the day it is present at sunrise.
Ratha Saptami in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Tuesday | |
| 2026 | Sunday | |
| 2027 | Saturday | |
| 2028 | Thursday | |
| 2029 | Monday | |
| 2030 | Saturday |
More Gujarati festivals
14 JanuaryUttarayanઉત્તરાયણ
15 FebruaryMaha Shivaratriમહાશિવરાત્રી
4 MarchHoli and Dhuletiહોળી · ધુળેટી
19 MarchChaitra Navratriચૈત્રી નવરાત્રી
26 MarchRam Navamiરામ નવમી
2 AprilHanuman Jayantiહનુમાન જયંતી
Where to see Ratha Saptami
In Gujarat
- Sun Temple, ModheraGujaratThe Solanki temple and its stepped tank, on the Pushpavati river in Mehsana district.
- Rani ki Vav, PatanGujaratThe queen's stepwell of the same dynasty, a short drive from Modhera.
- DwarkaGujaratDawn on the western sea, at the temple of Krishna whose son Samba was healed by the Sun.
Across India
- KonarkOdishaThe temple built as the Sun's chariot, with a fair on the beach at dawn.
- TirumalaAndhra PradeshSeven processions on seven mounts in a single day.
- MartandJammu and KashmirThe ruined eighth-century Sun temple of Kashmir.