Saptami
Also called Shukla Saptami, Bhanu Saptami, Ratha Saptami
When
Monday, 16 November 2026 in 22 days
New Delhi · change location
at sunrise — and this observance is taken by the sunrise tithi, with no other period overriding it.
See the complete panchang for that day →
Governed by udaya
Why this date?
The seventh tithi of the bright fortnight, recurring monthly. When it falls on a Sunday it is Bhanu Saptami, which carries additional weight — Sunday and Saptami are both Surya's, and their coincidence is the reason for the separate name.
- Computed by the panchanga engine for your location
- Follows a written selection rule, not a copied list
- The governing period is stated, and the rule is applied to it
- The written guide has not yet been reviewed by a named scholar
Dates come from the calculation engine and are independent of the written guide. How we calculate →
Dates in the coming years
- Monday, 16 November 2026 in 22 days
- Wednesday, 16 December 2026 in 52 days
- Friday, 15 January 2027 in 82 days
- Saturday, 13 February 2027 in 111 days
- Monday, 15 March 2027 in 141 days
- Tuesday, 13 April 2027 in 170 days
- Wednesday, 12 May 2027 in 199 days
- Saturday, 10 July 2027 in 258 days
Published to 2030. Later years appear as the dataset is extended and validated.
What In short
The monthly Saptami, kept for Surya. The Magha occurrence — Ratha Saptami — is the annual form and is far more widely observed than the monthly one.
- Deity: Surya
- Recurs: monthly
Why The reason behind it
Saptami is the Sun's tithi: the seventh day, the seven horses of his chariot, and the seven colours the tradition assigns his light. The monthly observance is light; the Magha one marks the chariot's turn towards the north and is kept with a pre-dawn bath.
Traditional basis
Surya worship tradition — Saptami as Surya's tithi, and the Ratha Saptami of Magha as its annual form.
Bhanu Saptami convention — The Sunday coincidence and its additional merit.
How At home, step by step
- Offer arghya to the Sun at sunrise — water poured while facing east.
- On Ratha Saptami, bathe before sunrise with arka leaves on the head.
- A single meal is kept by those who observe it.
Fasting and breaking the fast
A single meal where kept; the monthly form is light.
Fasting guidance here describes traditional practice. It is not medical advice — if you are pregnant, diabetic, on medication or unwell, ask a doctor about your own circumstances.
Personal In your region
- North India yours
The monthly Saptami is light; Ratha Saptami is the kept one. - Andhra & Telangana (Telugu)
Ratha Saptami is a major temple observance, particularly at Tirumala. - Karnataka (Kannada)
Kept with the pre-dawn bath and the arka leaves.
For children
The seventh day after the new moon, which belongs to the Sun. When it lands on a Sunday — the Sun's day too — it counts for more.
Common questions
- What is Bhanu Saptami?
- A Saptami falling on a Sunday. Both are Surya's, so the coincidence is held to multiply the day's merit and it gets its own name.
Not the same day
These fall nearby or share the tithi, and are often confused with this observance. They are separate, and this site dates them separately.
- Ratha Saptami
This guide has not yet been reviewed by a named scholar or practising priest. The dates and times on this page come from the calculation engine and are independent of it; the explanatory text is editorial and may not reflect your family's practice. Tell us if something is wrong.