Ratha Saptami 2022 is celebrated on the Saptami, during Shukla Paksha in the month of Magha as per the Hindu calendar. It is also celebrated as Surya Jayanti, Magha Saptami, Achala Saptami, Arogya Saptami. The festival is dedicated to Bhagawan Surya turning his golden chariot having seven horses driven by Aruna(brother of Garuda) the charioteer, towards the northern hemisphere.
Ratha Saptami 2022
Ratha Saptami 2022 date is February 7 in western parts of India. It is marked on February 8, 2022 in South and North India.
Rituals
On Magha Sapthami, we find people preparing a special kheer with beaten rice adding jaggery and offer the same as nivedana to Sun God. A kolam or rangoli of Lord Surya riding a chariot is made on the ground and worshipped in many places.
Chanting ‘Gayatri Mantra’ and reciting ‘Surya Sahasranaam’, ‘Adityahridayam’ or ‘Suryashtakam’ is considered very auspicious on this day.
A kolam or rangoli of Bhagawan Surya riding a chariot is made on the ground and worshipped in many places.
Special celebrations are held at Sun temples on the occasion of Achala Sapthami especially at Konark (Odisha), Arasavalli (Andhra Pradesh). In some of the important Vaishnavite temples such as the Tirumala, Srirangam, Srirangapattana & Melukote, Ratha Saptami is one of the important festivals of the year. Annual Car Festival of Sri Veera Venkatesha of Sri Venkatramana Temple in Mangalore/Manguluru is held on this day and is famously known as Kodial Teru or Mangaluru Rathotsava.
