Ratha Saptami 2026
Ratha Saptami 2026 falls on Sunday, Sunday, January 25, 2026. Observed on: magha shukla 7.
Exact date, puja muhurat & city-wise timings for Ratha Saptami 2026
Key Information
Festival Date
Sunday, January 25, 2026
2026 Calendar Context
Weekday
Sunday
Vikram Samvat
2083
Shaka Samvat
1948
This year Ratha Saptami falls on a Sunday, 10 days earlier than 2025 (2025-02-04) — typical lunar-calendar drift.
Falling on a Sunday gives the day a Surya emphasis — Sun-ruled rites and copper offerings carry extra weight.
The 2025 observance fell on Tuesday, 2025-02-04 — this year arrives 10 days earlier in the Gregorian calendar, the familiar 11-day shift of the unmodified lunar year.
Looking ahead to 2027, Ratha Saptami will fall on Saturday, 2027-02-13 (19 days later than this year). So planning ritual schedules across years means anchoring to the tithi rather than the Gregorian date.
Astronomical context for Ratha Saptami 2026
On Sunday, January 25, 2026, sunrise in Delhi (the reference city for this page) falls at 07:12 IST and sunset at 17:54 IST — a daylight span of 10h 42m. Across the six pan-Indian cities tabulated below, sunrise on this date varies from 06:17 (Kolkata) at the eastern edge to 07:14 (Mumbai) in the west — a 57-minute difference that drives the city-by-city muhurat shift you see in the table.
For Ratha Saptami 2026, the central rite of udaya tithi (sunrise) depends on the Magha Shukla 7 being present during that window on 2026-01-25 — confirmed across 6 reference cities in this year's computation pass. Cities further east (Kolkata, Chennai) see the window open ~15-25 minutes before Delhi; cities west of Delhi (Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore) see it start later by a similar margin.
City-Wise Timings for Ratha Saptami 2026
| City | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi | 7:12 AM | 5:54 PM |
| Mumbai | 7:14 AM | 6:27 PM |
| Bangalore | 6:46 AM | 6:17 PM |
| Chennai | 6:35 AM | 6:06 PM |
| Kolkata | 6:17 AM | 5:19 PM |
| Pune | 7:09 AM | 6:24 PM |
Click any city for detailed local timings, puja vidhi & samagri list
Why This Date?
Ratha Saptami follows the Udaya Tithi rule – the festival is observed on the day when the required tithi prevails at sunrise. This is the default Dharmasindhu convention for festivals without a special time-window requirement.
Deity
Surya (Sun God)
Legend & History
Ratha Saptami celebrates the birth of Surya, the Sun God, and marks the day he began his northward chariot journey across the sky drawn by seven horses representing the seven days of the week. The Bha… Read full legend →Show less ↑
Ratha Saptami celebrates the birth of Surya, the Sun God, and marks the day he began his northward chariot journey across the sky drawn by seven horses representing the seven days of the week. The Bhavishya Purana describes this as the day Surya's radiance first illuminated the universe, dispelling primordial darkness.
How to Observe
Devotees rise before dawn and bathe with Arka (Calotropis) leaves placed on the head and shoulders, symbolizing purification by the Sun. Surya Namaskar is performed facing the rising sun. Offerings of red flowers, wheat, and jaggery are made. Many observe a fast and recite the Aditya Hridayam stotra.
Significance
Ratha Saptami marks the symbolic birthday of Surya and the quickening of spring. It is believed that bathing with Arka leaves absolves sins of seven lifetimes. The festival underscores the Sun's role as the sustainer of all life and the source of health and vitality.
Looking for Ratha Saptami 2027?
Ratha Saptami 2027 Date & Muhurat