Quick answer: Rahu Kaal is a roughly 90-minute period each day considered inauspicious for starting important work. It is found by dividing the time from sunrise to sunset into eight parts; the Rahu segment depends on the weekday, so the exact timing changes daily and by location.
Quick answer: Rahu Kaal is a roughly 90-minute window each day considered inauspicious in Vedic tradition for starting important new tasks. To calculate it, divide the time between sunrise and sunset into 8 equal parts — Rahu Kaal is one specific part that changes by weekday (for example, the 2nd part on Monday and the 8th on Sunday).
Whether you are picking a time to sign a deal, begin a journey, or perform a ceremony, many people in India check Rahu Kaal first. The good news: the math is simple once you know the rule. Here is exactly how it works.
What is Rahu Kaal?
Rahu Kaal (also spelled Rahu Kalam) is the daily period ruled by the shadow planet Rahu. Tradition advises against starting auspicious or important activities during this window — though ongoing work and routine tasks are considered fine. It is one of several daily timing systems alongside Gulika Kaal and Yamaganda.
The fastest way to find today’s timing for your city is the free Rahu Kaal calculator, which uses your local sunrise and sunset.
How to calculate Rahu Kaal
The method has three steps:
- Find your local sunrise and sunset times.
- Divide the total daylight duration into 8 equal parts.
- Pick the part assigned to the weekday (see table below).
For a standard 6:00 AM sunrise and 6:00 PM sunset, each part is 12 ÷ 8 = 1.5 hours. Real days vary, so the window shifts with the seasons and your latitude.
Rahu Kaal by weekday
This is the fixed sequence. Times below assume a 6 AM–6 PM day for illustration only.
| Weekday | Part of day | Approx. window (6 AM sunrise) |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 2nd | 7:30 – 9:00 AM |
| Tuesday | 7th | 3:00 – 4:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 5th | 12:00 – 1:30 PM |
| Thursday | 6th | 1:30 – 3:00 PM |
| Friday | 4th | 10:30 – 12:00 PM |
| Saturday | 3rd | 9:00 – 10:30 AM |
| Sunday | 8th | 4:30 – 6:00 PM |
A worked example
Say it is Friday and your sunrise is 6:12 AM, sunset 6:48 PM. Daylight = 12 hours 36 minutes = 756 minutes. Each part = 756 ÷ 8 = 94.5 minutes. Friday’s Rahu Kaal is the 4th part, so it runs from 6:12 AM + (3 × 94.5 min) to + (4 × 94.5 min) — about 10:55 AM to 12:30 PM.
What to avoid (and what’s fine)
- Often avoided: weddings, housewarming (Griha Pravesh), starting a business, important travel, signing major agreements.
- Considered fine: continuing existing work, daily chores, and — per many traditions — devotional activity.
Planning a ceremony? Pair this with an auspicious time using the Choghadiya calculator or Daily Panchang.
Frequently asked questions
How long is Rahu Kaal each day?
About 90 minutes, but it is exactly one-eighth of the daylight period, so it varies with the season and your location.
Is Rahu Kaal the same time every day?
No. The part of day is fixed per weekday, but the actual clock time changes daily with sunrise and sunset.
Can I travel during Rahu Kaal?
Tradition advises against starting an important journey during Rahu Kaal, though continuing a trip already underway is considered acceptable.
Does Rahu Kaal apply at night?
The common daytime Rahu Kaal is calculated from sunrise to sunset. A separate night-time calculation (sunset to next sunrise) also exists in some traditions.
Related guides
Keep exploring related calculators and explainers:
- Shani Sade Sati — Saturn’s 7.5-year transit.
- Mangal Dosha (Manglik) — meaning and remedies.
- Kundali Basics — how a Vedic birth chart is built.
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