How Is Rahu Kaal Calculated? Today's Timing, the Weekday Table and What to Avoid
Published · Updated
Rahu Kaal is the one-eighth of the day, about 90 minutes between sunrise and sunset, in which nothing new is begun. It is calculated from your own city's sunrise and sunset, so it falls at a different clock time in every city and every season.
Last updated: 14 October 2026
The agreement is ready to sign at 3 pm. Then a message from an elder: "Not then. That's Rahu Kaal."
Know the exact window for your city, and the signing goes ahead the same afternoon.
What is Rahu Kaal?
Rahu Kaal (Rahu Kalam) is the part of the day ruled by Rahu: one of eight equal parts of the daylight, kept free of new beginnings. Families check it before they sign, buy, travel or start work.
Rahu is the north node of the Moon, a shadow planet (chhaya graha). The slice of the day it rules is kept for work already under way.
How is Rahu Kaal calculated?
Rahu Kaal is calculated by dividing the time from sunrise to sunset into eight equal parts and taking the part fixed for that weekday. Three steps:
- Find today's sunrise and sunset for your city.
- Divide the daylight by 8. Each part is about 90 minutes: longer in summer, shorter in winter.
- Take the part for today's weekday from the table below.
A worked example. In Mumbai on Wednesday 21 October 2026, the sun rises at 6:38 am and sets at 6:07 pm. That is 11 hours 29 minutes of daylight, so each part is 86 minutes.
Wednesday takes the 5th part. Mumbai's Rahu Kaal that day runs from 12:23 pm to 1:49 pm.
Rahu Kaal by weekday
| Weekday | Part of the day (from sunrise) | Clock time if sunrise is 6 am and sunset 6 pm |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 2nd | 7:30 to 9:00 am |
| Tuesday | 7th | 3:00 to 4:30 pm |
| Wednesday | 5th | 12:00 to 1:30 pm |
| Thursday | 6th | 1:30 to 3:00 pm |
| Friday | 4th | 10:30 am to 12:00 pm |
| Saturday | 3rd | 9:00 to 10:30 am |
| Sunday | 8th | 4:30 to 6:00 pm |
The clock times are a guide only. Your city's sunrise and sunset move them every day.
Why is Rahu Kaal at a different time in my city?
Rahu Kaal falls at a different clock time in each city because each city has its own sunrise and sunset. The part of the day stays the same; the clock time moves.
On the same Wednesday, 21 October 2026, the sun rises in Guwahati at 5:28 am, 70 minutes before Mumbai. Guwahati's Rahu Kaal runs from 11:07 am to 12:32 pm, while Mumbai's begins at 12:23 pm.
So a Rahu Kaal copied from another city is a different window. Families in the US, UK, Canada, Australia or the Gulf need their own city's timing: see today's panchang for Dubai, London or New York.
What should not be done during Rahu Kaal?
During Rahu Kaal, do not begin anything new and important. Keep these for another part of the day:
- Signing agreements and property papers
- Setting out on a journey
- Big purchases: a home, a vehicle, gold
- Openings and ceremonies: a shop, a griha pravesh, a sagai
What can you do during Rahu Kaal?
You can carry on with anything you began before Rahu Kaal, and do your routine work, during it. The rule covers the start of a new undertaking.
- Work already under way
- Daily chores, meals and the commute
- Prayer and japa
- Anything urgent: act at once
Can I travel during Rahu Kaal?
Avoid setting out on an important journey during Rahu Kaal; a journey that began earlier can continue through it. Leave before it starts, or after it ends.
The direction matters too. Each weekday has one direction not to set out towards: see disha shool, the direction to avoid each day.
Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda and Gulika Kaal: what is the difference?
Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda and Gulika Kaal are three different parts of the same eight-part day, and each is kept free of new work. All three are calculated the same way, from sunrise and sunset, and fixed by weekday.
| Weekday | Rahu Kaal | Yamaganda | Gulika Kaal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | 8th | 5th | 7th |
| Monday | 2nd | 4th | 6th |
| Tuesday | 7th | 3rd | 5th |
| Wednesday | 5th | 2nd | 4th |
| Thursday | 6th | 1st | 3rd |
| Friday | 4th | 7th | 2nd |
| Saturday | 3rd | 6th | 1st |
- Yamaganda belongs to Yama, lord of death: keep new work out of it.
- Gulika Kaal belongs to Gulika, son of Saturn: keep new work out of it; it suits prayer.
Rahu Kaal or a shubh muhurat: which matters more?
Avoiding Rahu Kaal keeps one weak slice out of your day; a shubh muhurat finds the strongest moment for your occasion. They answer two different questions.
A Wednesday can hold a strong griha pravesh muhurat at 11 am and Rahu Kaal at 12:23 pm. One is a window to walk into, the other a window to walk around.
For the moments that shape your life, look for the muhurat, not just a gap. A wedding, a new home or a business opening deserves a time chosen for that occasion and for your family.
Where is Rahu Kaal observed most closely?
Rahu Kaal is observed most closely in South India, where families in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala check it every day, together with Yamaganda and Gulika.
Across North India, families check Rahu Kaal before every signing, purchase and ceremony. The calculation is the same everywhere: sunrise, sunset, eight parts, one part for the weekday.
Frequently asked questions
What is Rahu Kaal today in my city?
Rahu Kaal today depends on your city's sunrise and sunset, so it differs from city to city. Tarini's free daily panchang gives today's Rahu Kaal for 113 cities in India and abroad.
How long is Rahu Kaal?
Rahu Kaal lasts one-eighth of the daylight, about 90 minutes. It is longer on summer days and shorter on winter days: in Mumbai on 21 October 2026 it lasts 86 minutes.
How is Rahu Kaal calculated?
Rahu Kaal is calculated by dividing the time from sunrise to sunset into eight equal parts and taking the part fixed for the weekday: the 2nd on Monday, 7th on Tuesday, 5th on Wednesday, 6th on Thursday, 4th on Friday, 3rd on Saturday and 8th on Sunday.
What should not be done during Rahu Kaal?
During Rahu Kaal, do not begin anything new and important: signing agreements, setting out on a journey, big purchases, a shop opening, a griha pravesh or a sagai.
Can I travel during Rahu Kaal?
Avoid setting out on an important journey during Rahu Kaal; leave before it begins or after it ends. A journey already under way can continue through it.
Is there Rahu Kaal at night?
Rahu Kaal is reckoned in the daytime, from sunrise to sunset. The panchang gives one Rahu Kaal for each day.
Does Rahu Kaal apply in the USA, UK or Dubai?
Yes, Rahu Kaal applies wherever you are, calculated from your own city's sunrise and sunset on its local date. Tarini's daily panchang covers cities in the US, UK, Canada, Europe, the Gulf and Asia-Pacific.
Can work that began before Rahu Kaal continue during it?
Yes, work that began before Rahu Kaal can continue through it. The rule covers the start of a new undertaking.
Related: Brahma muhurta: today's time and how to calculate it · Disha shool: the direction to avoid each day · Tomorrow's panchang · Every shubh day of 2026 and 2027