Ratha Saptami

Rathasapthami or Ratha Saptami is a Hindu festival that falls on the Seventh day of the bright half of the hindu month Magha. [Swami Sivananda, [http://www.sivanandadlshq.org/religions/ratha.htm Ratha Saptami] ] It falls on February 13th in year 2008.

Lord Vishnu in his form as Surya is usually worshiped on this day. Usually, Rathasapthami begins in households with a purification bath by holding a few "bilva" leaves on one's head while bathing and chanting a verse which is supposed to invoke the benevolence of the Lord in all that one takes up the rest of the year. It also involves doing a "puja" with the ritual 'Naivedyam', flowers and fruits.

This day is also known as Surya Jayanthi because it celebrates the power of the Sun God who is believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

In important Vaishnavite temples like Tirumala and Srirangam, Rathasapthami figures as one of the important festivals of the year. A one day Brahmotsavam is held and the Utsava Murthy is carried out in a variety of vahanams around the main temple precints during the day.

Rathasapthami also marks the gradual increase in temperature across South India and anticipates the arrival of spring which is later heralded by the festival of Ugadi in the month of 'Chaitra'.

In the Vaishnavite tradition, days in the year marking 'Vaikunta Ekadasi', 'Rathasapthami', 'Ugadi', 'Vijayadashami', are held in high regard and observed accordingly.

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