Ratha Saptami is a significant religious festival celebrated in many Vishnu (Perumal) temples across Tamil Nadu. It typically falls on the seventh day of the waxing moon (Shukla Paksha) in the Tamil month of Thai (January–February), marking the transition of the Sun into the northern hemisphere, a period known as Uttarayana. This day is also revered as Surya Jayanti, commemorating the birth of the Sun God, Surya, to Sage Kashyapa and Aditi .
🌞 Significance of Ratha Saptami
Ratha Saptami holds profound spiritual and cultural importance:
- Sun Worship: The festival is dedicated to Lord Surya, symbolizing the cosmic event of his transition toward the northern hemisphere. Devotees perform rituals to seek blessings for health, wisdom, prosperity, and protection from negative energies .
- Symbolic Chariot: The day represents Surya’s chariot, drawn by seven horses, each symbolizing a day of the week, with the chariot having twelve wheels representing the twelve zodiac signs .
- Seasonal Change: It marks the onset of spring and the beginning of the harvesting season, making it an auspicious time for new beginnings .
🛕 Celebrations in Tamil Nadu
Ratha Saptami is celebrated with grandeur in several Vishnu temples across Tamil Nadu:
- Sarangapani Temple, Kumbakonam: This temple is renowned for its grand chariot festival during Ratha Saptami, where the deity is taken out in a procession on a massive chariot .
- Devanathaswamy Temple, Thiruvanthipuram: The temple observes Ratha Saptami with special rituals and processions, attracting numerous devotees .
- Pundarikakshan Perumal Temple, Tirvellarai: Celebrates the chariot festival during Ratha Saptami, with verses from Naalayira Divya Prabandham recited amidst music and traditional instruments .
- Oppiliappan Temple, Kumbakonam: Hosts a significant chariot procession during Ratha Saptami, drawing large crowds of devotees .
In these temples, the festival is marked by:
- Ratha Yatra (Chariot Procession): The deity is taken around the temple in a grand procession, allowing devotees to have a closer darshan.
- Special Pujas and Rituals: Devotees perform early morning rituals, including offering Arka leaves (Calotropis gigantea) on their head, shoulders, knees, and feet, while chanting prayers to invoke the benevolence of Lord Vishnu as Surya .
- Community Participation: Devotees actively participate in the festivities, including pulling the chariot and offering prayers, fostering a sense of community and devotion.
🗓️ Ratha Saptami 2025 Date
In 2025, Ratha Saptami will be observed on February 7. Devotees can participate in the festivities at various Vishnu temples across Tamil Nadu to seek blessings and witness the grandeur of the celebrations.
If you’re interested in experiencing Ratha Saptami firsthand, visiting temples like Sarangapani in Kumbakonam or Devanathaswamy in Thiruvanthipuram would offer a profound insight into this sacred tradition.