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Ratha Sapthami

Ratha Sapthami comes on maaga shudda sapthami. Ratha means chariot and Sapthami means 7th day. This festival is in the month of January-February. It is the day when Sun God will ride on the chariot drawn by 7 horses. On this day, Sun moves from Southeast to Northeast. The day is also known as Surya Jayanthi as it celebrates the power of Sun God, believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

 On Ratha Sapthami day, people take bath with 7 leaves of Ekka or Arka or Jilledu or Erukku (Calotropis Gigantea). Place 1 on head, 2 on shoulders, 2 on knees, 2 on foot. Perform puja to Lord Sun/Surya and do 12 surya namaskaras. The worship of Sun on Ratha Sapthami signifies the spread of energy and light from Sun God. Sun is the ruler of all planets and it is he who disburses energy. The Sun is approximately 149,600,000 kilometers from earth and sunlight takes 8.3 minutes to reach the earth.

 Mantra chanted while taking bath,
Saptha Saptha Maha Saptha
Saptha Dweepa Vasundara
Saptharka Parna Madaya
Sapthamyam Snana machareth

 Arka leaf is used in worshipping Lord Ganapati and Lord Hanuman. The stem of Arka tree is used for performing homa. Arka is a Sanskrit word. Means a ray, flash of lightning. Arka plant has very good medicinal value in Ayurvedic system of medicine. Arka is used in curing skin diseases, leprosy, tumors, joint pains, wounds etc.

The foodgrain associated with Sun is the Wheat and Beaten Rice/Avalakki. So, on this day, Wheat/Avalakki payasa/kheer is prepared and allowed to overflow in the pan that is used for preparation.

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