NamaJyoti
Get my chart

Panchang & muhurat

Rahu Kaal Explained: How It Is Calculated, Why It Differs by City, and Should You Really Avoid It?

By NamaJyoti editorial · Wednesday, 28 October 2026 · 2 min read

In short

Rahu Kaal is one-eighth of the daylight hours — roughly 90 minutes — and falls in a fixed slot for each weekday (Monday 2nd, Tuesday 7th, Wednesday 5th, Thursday 6th, Friday 4th, Saturday 3rd, Sunday 8th). It is counted from local sunrise, so it is different in every city. Today in Delhi it is 10:44–12:05. Tradition advises not starting new auspicious work in it; it does not mean danger.

How Rahu Kaal is calculated

  1. Take the time from sunrise to sunset in your city.
  2. Divide it into eight equal parts.
  3. Each weekday has one part assigned to Rahu. That part is Rahu Kaal.
WeekdayWhich eighth of the day
Monday2nd
Tuesday7th
Wednesday5th
Thursday6th
Friday4th
Saturday3rd
Sunday8th

A memory aid for the order starting Monday: “Mother Saw Father Wearing The Turban On Sunday” — Mon 2, Sat 3, Fri 4, Wed 5, Thu 6, Tue 7, Sun 8.

The commonly printed times (such as “Monday 7:30–9:00”) assume a 6 a.m. sunrise and a 6 p.m. sunset. In reality sunrise ranges from about 5:15 to 7:15 across India and changes through the year, which is why a fixed table is only an approximation.

Today's Rahu Kaal in six cities

CitySunriseSunsetRahu Kaal
Delhi06:4117:2810:44–12:05
Mumbai06:4418:0010:58–12:22
Kolkata05:4716:5309:57–11:20
Chennai06:0617:3910:26–11:53
Bengaluru06:1717:5010:37–12:03
Lucknow06:2417:1610:28–11:50

Calculated for 13/11/2026 (IST). Check [the Rahu Kaal calculator](/calculators/rahu-kaal) for your own town.

A worked example: today in Delhi

Delhi sunrise is 06:41 and sunset 17:28, so the daylight is 10 h 47 min. One-eighth of that is about 81 minutes. Today is Friday, whose Rahu Kaal is the 4th slot — which gives 10:44–12:05.

Calculate it yourself in three steps

  1. Look up your city's sunrise and sunset for the day (any weather app or the Panchang tool).
  2. Subtract sunrise from sunset and divide by 8. That is the length of one slot.
  3. Count slots from sunrise according to the weekday table, and add one slot length to get the end time. For example, with a 6:00 sunrise and 18:00 sunset a slot is 90 minutes, so a Wednesday (5th slot) Rahu Kaal is 12:00–13:30.

Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda and Gulika

WeekdayRahu KaalYamagandaGulika
Monday2nd4th6th
Tuesday7th3rd5th
Wednesday5th2nd4th
Thursday6th1st3rd
Friday4th7th2nd
Saturday3rd6th1st
Sunday8th5th7th

Which eighth of the daylight each falls in.

Panchangs also print Yamaganda and Gulika Kaal, calculated the same way with different slots. Rahu Kaal is the one most households follow; Yamaganda and Gulika matter mostly to practising pandits.

Should you really avoid Rahu Kaal?

The tradition is specific about what it asks. Rahu Kaal is considered a poor time to begin something new and auspicious — signing an important agreement, starting a journey, buying a vehicle, a griha pravesh, a new venture. It does not say that ordinary life stops: ongoing work, commuting, meetings that are already scheduled and exams are not affected.

Whether to observe it is a personal and family choice. If you observe it, a simple approach is to schedule starts for another part of the day. If a start cannot be moved, many people pause a few minutes, say a short prayer and go ahead — and nothing in the classical texts suggests more than that.

Looking for a favourable window instead? See Abhijit Muhurat, Choghadiya and Hora: which to use.

Rahu Kaal for my city →Today's panchang →
Instant PDF · ₹51 only

This is a reading for your sign. Get it for your own birth chart.

Enter your birth details, pay once, and download your complete kundli with a chapter on your question — what is blocking it, the favourable periods and the mantra to chant. Ready in about a minute.

Sampurna Mini Kundli₹51Marriage, career and money in one snapshot with 3 top remedies.Vivah Kundli₹51Why marriage is delayed, Manglik check, favourable periods, mantra remedies.Sarkari Naukri Kundli₹51What blocks selection, your Sun and 10th house, good periods, remedies.Business Kundli₹51Business or job, best sector, dhan yogas, what blocks money.

Secure payment via Razorpay · UPI, cards, net banking · optional mala/yantra links are from our own store, namaveda.in.

Questions

What is Rahu Kaal?
One-eighth of the time between sunrise and sunset, in a fixed slot for each weekday, traditionally avoided for starting new auspicious activities.
Why is Rahu Kaal different in different cities?
It is counted from local sunrise and sunset, which vary by location and season.
What is Rahu Kaal today in Delhi?
10:44–12:05 (IST).
Is it okay to travel or work during Rahu Kaal?
Yes for ongoing activities; the custom is about the start of new auspicious tasks.

Keep reading

Panchang & muhuratHow to Read a Panchang in 5 Minutes: Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga, Karana and VaarFestivals & datesDiwali 2026 Date: Lakshmi Puja on 8 November — Muhurat, Dhanteras, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj

Astrology is guidance, not medical, legal or financial advice. Dates and tables in this article are calculated from the sky — see how we calculate.