Thursday, February 10, 2011

Ratha Sapthami

I falls on 7th day of Magha masam. In 2011 it falls in Feb 10th. It is celebrated as Sun God's birth day.

Ratha Saptami or Rathasapthami (Sanskrit: रथसप्तमी, Telugu: రథ సప్తమి, Kannada:ರಥಸಪ್ಥಮಿ) or Magha Saptami is a Hindu festival that falls on the seventh day (Saptami) in the bright half (Shukla Paksha) of the Hindu month Maagha. It marks the seventh day following the Sun’s northerly movement (Uttarayana) of vernal equinox starting from Capricorn (Makara). It is symbolically represented in the form of the Sun God Surya turning his Ratha (Chariot) drawn by seven horses (representing seven colours) towards the northern hemisphere, in a north-easterly direction. It also marks the birth of Surya and hence celebrated as Surya Jayanti (the Sun-god’s birthday).




Ratha Saptami is symbolic of the change of season to spring and the start of the harvesting season. For most Indian farmers, it is an auspicious beginning of the New Year. The festival is observed by all Hindus in their houses and in innumerable temples dedicated to Surya, across India.

Prasadam: Annam Paramannam