Festival · Magha Shukla Saptami
Ratha Saptami 2026
Magha Shukla Saptami, the Sun's birthday. A chariot drawn in rangoli, kheer offered to the Sun, and the last day of Sankranti's haldi-kunku.
Date, tithi and timing
Times are for Dubai. The app gives times for your city.
Date by city
The date is the same in every city listed.
Next year, 2027
Quick facts
- Also known asSurya Jayanti, Magha Saptami, Achala Saptami
- WhereAll of India; big at the Sun temples of the south and Odisha
- Puja forSurya, the Sun
- In one lineThe Sun's birthday; his seven-horse chariot turns north, and spring is on its way.
Ratha Saptami, in a little more detail
- 01
About the festival
Magha Shukla Saptami is Ratha Saptami, Surya Jayanti. The Sun, son of Aditi and Kashyapa, is believed to have been born today.
At Sankranti the Sun moved into Makara; today his chariot is said to turn north. The cold starts to ease, spring comes closer, and many farmers treat the day as an auspicious new year.
It's the birthday of the one who brings the day and ripens the crop. Saying thank you for the light you get every day without asking is the meaning of the day.
- 02
The Sun's chariot
The Sun is the son of Aditi and the sage Kashyapa. He crosses the sky in a chariot, and his charioteer is Aruna.
The chariot has seven horses, like the seven colours of the rainbow, and twelve wheels, like the twelve signs of the zodiac: one whole year, a samvatsara.
From today, the picture goes, that chariot turns north. That's why a seven-horse chariot is drawn in rangoli at the door today: the Sun's journey, at your doorstep.
- 03
In Maharashtra and beyond
A bath before sunrise, with seven arka (rui) leaves placed on the head, shoulders, knees and feet. Then an arghya to the Sun from a small kalash, with red flowers and sandalwood.
A chariot and sun are drawn in rangoli in front of the tulsi vrindavan. In the courtyard, milk is boiled down in a small clay pot into kheer and offered to the Sun. Some fast, and giving today counts for more.
The daily tilgul and haldi-kunku gatherings that began at Sankranti end today. In the south, Tirumala holds a one-day Brahmotsavam and Mysore and Melkote carry the Sun in procession; in Odisha it's Konark's day.
How to do the puja
In short: Before sunrise, a bath with seven arka leaves; then arghya, a chariot in rangoli and milk boiled for the Sun.
- 1Rise before sunrise and bathe with seven arka leaves: one on the head, two on the shoulders, two on the knees, two on the feet.Arka sap can hurt the eyes and blister the skin: wipe the stems, keep the leaves away from your eyes, and wash your hands after.
- 2Facing the rising Sun, offer arghya from a small kalash, with red flowers and sandalwood paste.The puja is held best within the first hour after sunrise.
- 3Recite the Aditya Hridayam, the Gayatri or a prayer to the Sun.Say what you can: once, said with care, is enough.
- 4Draw the Sun's chariot with its seven horses in rangoli before the tulsi vrindavan.The seven horses are the seven colours of the rainbow.
- 5In the courtyard, boil milk down in a small clay pot and offer it to the Sun as kheer.Keep an eye on small children near the fire.
- 6Fast if you can, and give something away.Giving today is held to bear more fruit.
- 7Bring the haldi-kunku gatherings that began at Sankranti to a close.After today, the tilgul and haldi-kunku visits stop until next year.
What you needTick as you go
0 of 9 ready
Frequently asked questions
Is arka sap dangerous?
Yes, handle it with care. Sap in the eye can swell it and blur your sight, and on skin it can blister. Keep the leaves away from your eyes, don't let children chew them, and see a doctor at once if sap gets in an eye.
Where do I find arka leaves?
Arka grows wild by roads and on open ground, and flower markets sell the leaves today. If you can't find any, bathe as usual and give the arghya.
Why boil the milk outdoors?
The kheer is for the Sun, so it's made in the courtyard, in his light. In the south, a cow-dung cake is lit at the centre of the chariot kolam and the milk boiled on it.
What if I bathe after sunrise?
The custom is before sunrise, but if you're late, bathe and give the arghya within the first hour after sunrise. If you're unwell or elderly, take care in the cold.
Set a reminder in the app
The app sends a notice the day before and on the day, even offline.