Ratha Saptami is the seventh day after the new moon of Thai, kept as the day the Sun turns his chariot north. In Tamil homes the head bath that morning is taken with seven leaves of the erukku (arka) plant placed on the head, shoulders and feet. A chariot kolam is drawn at the door, and sweet pongal is offered to the Sun in the open.
The story
The Sun rides a chariot of a single wheel drawn by seven horses, driven by the legless Aruna. This day is counted as his birthday and as the true beginning of the warm half of the year.
The Mahabharata's Bhishma, who lay dying through the winter, is said to have had his pain eased by erukku leaves laid on him by Vyasa; the leaves of the bath are remembered that way in the south.
How the morning goes
- Erukku-leaf bathSeven leaves, with a little raw rice (and, for women, turmeric) on the one placed on the head.
- Ther kolamA chariot is drawn at the entrance, facing north.
- Sakkarai pongalCooked and offered to the Sun, sometimes on erukku leaves.
- Aditya HridayamThe hymn to the Sun is recited facing east.
Why this date
Ratha Saptami is the seventh tithi of the bright fortnight following the new moon of Thai (the lunar month of Magha), on the day it is present at sunrise.
Ratha Saptami in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunday | |
| 2027 | Saturday | |
| 2028 | Thursday | |
| 2029 | Monday | |
| 2030 | Saturday | |
| 2031 | Wednesday |
More Tamil festivals
23 JanuaryThai Pusamதைப்பூசம்
15 JanuaryThai Pongalதைப்பொங்கல்
6 MarchMaha Shivaratriமகா சிவராத்திரி
16 JanuaryMattu Pongalமாட்டுப் பொங்கல்
22 MarchPanguni Uthiramபங்குனி உத்திரம்
14 AprilPuthanduதமிழ்ப் புத்தாண்டு
Where to see Ratha Saptami
In Tamil Nadu
- Suryanar KovilTamil NaduThe Sun's own temple among the nine Navagraha shrines round Kumbakonam; this is its main festival.
- SrirangamTamil NaduThe Lord is taken out in procession, as in many Vishnu temples of the state.
- KanchipuramTamil NaduVaradaraja Perumal rides out on the Surya Prabha vahana.
Across India
- TirumalaAndhra PradeshSeven processions on seven vahanas in one day.
- KonarkOdishaThe temple built as the chariot, with a fair on the beach at dawn.
- ArasavalliAndhra PradeshThe Sun temple near Srikakulam.