What is Rahu Kaal?

Rahukaal (Rahu Kaal) is an inauspicious window of about 90 minutes that occurs every day, believed to fall under the influence of the shadow-planet Rahu. Traditionally, people avoid starting new, auspicious work during it. It is different every day and different in every city, because it is worked out from that place’s sunrise and sunset.

In jyotish (traditional Indian astrology), Rahu and Ketu are the ‘shadow planets’ — the two lunar nodes, with Rahu as the north node. They have no physical body, but tradition treats them as grahas and holds Rahu and Ketu responsible for the eclipses (grahan) of the Sun and Moon. The stretch of the day that falls under Rahu’s influence is called Rahukaal, and it is considered inauspicious.

This ‘inauspiciousness’ is a traditional belief, not an astronomical rule.

How Rahukaal is calculated

You need three things: your city’s sunrise and sunset for that day, and the vaar (weekday).

1. Take the daytime — sunrise to sunset — and split it into 8 equal parts. Each part is about 90 minutes (a little more or less, depending on the length of the day).
2. One fixed part, decided by the vaar, is that day’s Rahukaal.
3. There is never any Rahukaal in the first part of the day.

Weekday timings

The clock times above are only an example for an ideal 6:00 AM–6:00 PM day — the real time shifts every day and in every city.

Why it differs by day and by city

• Different every day: sunrise and sunset shift through the year, so the 8 parts change in length and position, and Rahukaal moves a little each day.
• Different in every city: sunrise and sunset depend on location, so no two cities — Pune, Mumbai, Nagpur, Kolhapur — have the same Rahukaal.

⚠️ The time on this site is a Maharashtra reference value, not a city-specific guarantee. For your city it will shift with the local sunrise and sunset.

What to avoid (traditionally)

Traditionally, people avoid starting new, auspicious work during Rahukaal — a vivah (wedding), griha-pravesh (house-warming), a shop or business opening, a new contract, a big purchase, the start of a journey, or a bhumi-pujan. However, routine work already begun at an auspicious time is generally considered fine to continue through Rahukaal — only new auspicious beginnings are avoided. (This is a traditional practice and varies by family and region.)

If it can’t be avoided — remedies

When Rahukaal cannot be avoided, some traditions suggest simple remedies such as offering gul (jaggery) or panchamrit to Hanuman, reciting a devotional stotra, or remembering the Devi, before beginning. (Varies by household custom.)

The legend of Rahu

The background to Rahu comes from the Samudra-manthan (the churning of the ocean). As the amrit (nectar) that emerged was being shared among the devas, Vishnu took the form of Mohini. An asura named Svarbhanu slipped into the row of devas in disguise and began to drink the amrit; the Sun and Moon recognised him and pointed him out, and Vishnu severed his head from his body. Because the nectar had touched him he became immortal — the head became Rahu, the body became Ketu. From then on Rahu is said to be an enemy of the Sun and Moon. (Names and side-details differ across versions.)

Regional practice

Rahukaal is observed especially strictly in South India; in Maharashtra and the north it is followed too, but less strictly. In Marathi panchang and media it appears as a daily element with the ‘avoid auspicious work’ custom. Alongside it, the panchang also gives Gulika kaal and Yamaganda, two other inauspicious windows.

Good to know

• The time shown is a Maharashtra reference, not a city guarantee — for your city, use the local sunrise/sunset.
• ‘Inauspicious’ is a traditional belief — read it as cultural context, not as a universal rule.
• There is never any Rahukaal in the first part of the day.
• For today’s exact time, see the today’s panchang page.

FAQ

What is Rahukaal today?

It is the ~90-minute window considered inauspicious for today, worked out from your city’s sunrise and sunset and the weekday — so it changes daily and by city. Check the today’s panchang page for the exact time.

How is Rahukaal calculated?

Split the daytime (sunrise to sunset) into 8 equal parts; the part fixed by the vaar is Rahukaal (Sun 8th, Mon 2nd, Tue 7th, Wed 5th, Thu 6th, Fri 4th, Sat 3rd).

Why is Rahukaal different every day and in every city?

Because it depends on the local sunrise and sunset, and those change every day and in every place.

Can work already started continue during Rahukaal?

By common belief, yes — only new auspicious beginnings are avoided. (Varies by tradition.)

How long does Rahukaal last?

About an hour and a half (~90 minutes), a little more or less depending on the length of the day.