Panchang
Rahu Kaal
What is Rahu Kaal?
Rahu Kaal is a period of roughly 90 minutes that occurs once each day, traditionally considered inauspicious for starting new or important undertakings. Its timing depends on the day of the week and on sunrise and sunset for your specific location, which is why the exact hours shift both day to day and city to city.
How the interval is calculated
Daylight hours (sunrise to sunset) are divided into eight equal segments. Each day of the week has a fixed segment assigned to it as Rahu Kaal. Monday uses the second segment, Saturday uses the third, and so on through a fixed weekly pattern. Because the segments are based on your local sunrise and sunset, not fixed clock hours, the exact start and end time shifts through the year as day length changes, and differs between cities even on the same date.
Why location matters
Two cities at different longitudes, or different latitudes with different day lengths, will have different sunrise and sunset times on the same date, which shifts every one of the eight daylight segments, Rahu Kaal included. This is why a Rahu Kaal time copied from a different city's almanac won't be accurate for you.
Traditional use
Rahu Kaal is traditionally avoided for starting new ventures, important travel, or significant purchases, though everyday and ongoing activities aren't typically restricted. This is a matter of tradition and personal or family practice rather than a fixed rule that applies the same way for everyone.
Common questions
Does Rahu Kaal apply the same way every day?+
No. Each day of the week has a different segment of daylight assigned to it, so both the timing and the specific hour differ depending on which day it is.
Is Rahu Kaal the same time everywhere?+
No. Because it's calculated from your local sunrise and sunset, the same calendar date will show different Rahu Kaal times in different cities.
What if I have to do something important during Rahu Kaal?+
Practices vary by family and region. Many people simply avoid starting brand-new undertakings during this window specifically, while ongoing or unavoidable activities are generally treated as fine.
How does Rahu Kaal relate to Choghadiya?+
Both come from the same tradition of dividing the day into favorable and unfavorable windows, but Choghadiya divides the full day and night into 16 named periods with different qualities, while Rahu Kaal is one specific daily inauspicious window within that broader system.