Ratha Saptami 2027

Ratha Saptami in 2027: the day and its bath before sunrise, at aruṇodaya, for your city, and Bhishma Ashtami the next day.

Magha, Shukla Saptami

Ratha Saptami in Delhi

Saturday, 13 February

Ratha Saptami is in 118 days. In Delhi, the Saptamī covers all of Saturday’s aruṇodaya and none of Sunday’s, so Ratha Saptami is on Saturday.

Bath, aruṇodaya05:26 – 07:02
SaptamīSat 02:59 – Sun 02:07
Bhishma AshtamiSunday, 14 February

Nirṇaya-sindhu p. 329; Dharmasindhu p. 89

How the day is chosen

Ratha Saptami is the Māgha śukla Saptamī covering aruṇodaya, the four ghaṭikās (96 minutes) before sunrise; when it covers aruṇodaya on both days, the earlier day is kept. A short Saptamī that ends before the next aruṇodaya is kept on the first day, bathed at its aruṇodaya while the Ṣaṣṭhī runs. Nirṇaya-sindhu p. 329; Dharmasindhu p. 89

Saturday or Sunday in Delhi

Delhi time

In Delhi, the Saptamī runs from Sat 02:59 to Sun 02:07: the Saptamī covers all of Saturday’s aruṇodaya and none of Sunday’s, so Ratha Saptami is on Saturday. Nirṇaya-sindhu p. 329; Dharmasindhu p. 89

The bath

The texts also call it Acalā Saptamī (the Divodāsīya, in the Nirṇaya-sindhu) and Mākarī Saptamī (in the bath mantra). It is a Manvādi too. Nirṇaya-sindhu pp. 329⁠–⁠332

Bhishma Ashtami 2027

In Delhi, on Sunday, 14 February: the Aṣṭamī covers Sunday’s midday and not Saturday’s. The tarpaṇa is at midday, 12:13 – 13:42, as for every ekoddiṣṭa. Dharmasindhu p. 90; Nirṇaya-sindhu p. 718

  • Tarpaṇa with sesame water to Bhīṣma, obligatory and open to every varṇa, done with the sacred thread reversed, then the arghya.
  • A śrāddha for offspring, optional.
  • Whether a man whose father is living may do it: the Nirṇaya-sindhu and most authors say yes; the Kaustubha says no.

Nirṇaya-sindhu pp. 332⁠–⁠333; Dharmasindhu pp. 89⁠–⁠90

Ratha Saptami 2027 around the world

Each city’s own sunrise and sunset
Saturday, 13 February
  • DelhiBath 05:26 – 07:02
  • MumbaiBath 05:33 – 07:09
  • KolkataBath 04:34 – 06:10
  • ChennaiBath 04:57 – 06:33
  • BengaluruBath 05:07 – 06:43
  • HyderabadBath 05:08 – 06:44
  • AhmedabadBath 05:38 – 07:14
  • PuneBath 05:28 – 07:04
  • JaipurBath 05:30 – 07:06
  • LucknowBath 05:09 – 06:45
  • LondonBath 05:44 – 07:20
  • New York CityBath 05:17 – 06:53
  • TorontoBath 05:44 – 07:20
  • DubaiBath 05:19 – 06:55
  • SingaporeBath 05:41 – 07:17
Sunday, 14 February
  • SydneyBath 04:53 – 06:29
Why the date differs In Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Jaipur, Lucknow, London, New York City, Toronto, Dubai and Singapore, the Saptamī covers Saturday’s aruṇodaya and none of Sunday’s, so Ratha Saptami is on Saturday. In Sydney, the Saptamī covers Sunday’s aruṇodaya and none of Monday’s, so Ratha Saptami is on Sunday. Nirṇaya-sindhu p. 329; Dharmasindhu p. 89

Other years: Ratha Saptami 2028, Ratha Saptami 2029; all Ratha Saptami dates.

Questions

From the Nirṇaya-sindhu p. 329; Dharmasindhu p. 89, with the page for each.

When is Ratha Saptami 2027?

In Delhi, on Saturday, 13 February 2027, with the bath at aruṇodaya, 05:26 – 07:02. In Sydney, it is Sunday, 14 February. Nirṇaya-sindhu p. 329

What time is the Ratha Saptami bath?

At aruṇodaya, the 96 minutes before sunrise, while the Saptamī runs: in Delhi in 2027, 05:26 – 07:02. A bath then equals one at a solar eclipse. Nirṇaya-sindhu pp. 329⁠–⁠330

When is Bhishma Ashtami 2027?

In Delhi, on Sunday, 14 February 2027: the Aṣṭamī covers Sunday’s midday and not Saturday’s. The tarpaṇa to Bhīṣma is at midday, 12:13 – 13:42. Dharmasindhu p. 90; Nirṇaya-sindhu p. 718

Why is the date different in the US or UK?

Ratha Saptami is decided by the Saptamī at aruṇodaya at the city. The tithi begins and ends at the same moment everywhere, but sunrise and sunset come at different hours, so a city far to the west or east can keep another day. Nirṇaya-sindhu p. 329

How the day is found

Read the methodology
The day
The Māgha śukla Saptamī covering aruṇodaya. When it covers aruṇodaya on both days, the earlier day is kept (NS p. 329; DS p. 89; VR f. 115). A short Saptamī that ends before the next aruṇodaya is kept on the first day (NS p. 330).
Aruṇodaya
The four ghaṭikās, 96 minutes, before sunrise (Nirṇaya-sindhu p. 297).
Bhishma Ashtami
The Aṣṭamī covering midday, the 8th and 9th day-muhūrtas, by the ekoddiṣṭa rule (DS p. 90; NS p. 718).
Sunrise
At the centre of the Sun’s disc, with refraction, for the chosen city. Every date is that city’s own.

Sunrise and sunset at the centre of the Sun’s disc, with refraction · Lahiri ayanamsa for month names · each city’s own time · Swiss Ephemeris · Method