What is Yamaganda?

Yamaganda (Yamaganda Kaal) is an inauspicious window of about 90 minutes that occurs every day — much like Rahukaal and Gulika kaal, but at a different time. The daytime, from sunrise to sunset, is split into 8 equal parts, and one fixed part — decided by the vaar (weekday) — is Yamaganda. Traditionally, people avoid starting new, auspicious work during it. The exact time is different every day and different in every city, because it is worked out from that place's sunrise and sunset.

Beyond the five limbs of the panchang — tithi, vaar, nakshatra, yoga and karana — the panchang also marks certain auspicious and inauspicious windows within the day. Rahukaal, Gulika kaal and Yamaganda are the three main inauspicious windows, and they are usually shown together.

The name Yamaganda is linked to Yama, traditionally described as the deity of death (and, in some sources, of time). In some traditions it is also called Ketu Kalam (Ketu period). The word ganda is traditionally taken to mean ‘obstacle’ or ‘affliction’, and the idea behind the name is that work begun during Yamaganda tends to stumble.

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

How Yamaganda 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 Yamaganda (see the table below).
3. Because sunrise and sunset shift every day and by location, Yamaganda's clock time is different each day.

Note: our page shows today's Yamaganda live, so you never have to do this maths yourself.

Weekday (vaar) timings

The order of parts below is derived from our own panchang data.

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 Yamaganda moves a little each day. In summer the daytime is longer, so each part is about 99 minutes; in winter it is about 82 minutes — which is why ‘an hour and a half’ is only a rough figure.
• Different in every city: sunrise and sunset depend on location, so no two cities — Pune, Mumbai, Nagpur, Kolhapur — have the same Yamaganda.

⚠️ 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.

Example windows (for illustration only)

Maharashtra reference values — showing the vaar-part and how the window shifts through the year. The live ‘today's Yamaganda’ on the page is the real time.

What to avoid (traditionally)

Traditionally, people avoid starting new, auspicious work during Yamaganda — a new beginning, the start of a journey, a big purchase or investment, signing a contract, or an important meeting. However, routine work already under way, regular puja and daily seva are not restricted — the caution applies only to new auspicious beginnings, so there is no cause for fear. (This is a traditional practice and varies by family and region.)

Yamaganda vs Rahukaal vs Gulika — the difference

• All three are the same kind of thing — a daily inauspicious slot among the 8 parts of the daytime, each about an hour and a half, fixed by the vaar.
• The only difference is which part falls on which vaar — so on any given day all three fall at different times. For example, on a Monday, Rahukaal may be in the morning, Yamaganda just before midday, and Gulika kaal in the afternoon — three separate windows.
• Rahukaal is the most well-known and most searched of this family; Gulika kaal and Yamaganda are its siblings. By contrast, the Abhijit muhurat is the most auspicious window of the day, lasting about 48 minutes. For the full layout of the day's (and night's) time slots, see choghadiya.

Dates

Yamaganda changes daily — check today's panchang page for the exact time.

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.
• Only new, auspicious beginnings are avoided; work already under way need not stop.
• For today's exact time, see the today's panchang page.

FAQ

What is Yamaganda Kaal?

It is one of the 8 parts of the daytime (sunrise to sunset), about an hour and a half long — a daily inauspicious window in which starting new, auspicious work is traditionally avoided.

What should you avoid during Yamaganda Kaal?

Traditionally, new beginnings, travel, big purchases or investments, and contracts are avoided; routine work already under way can continue. (Varies by family and region.)

Which vaar and time does Yamaganda fall on?

The part is fixed by the vaar — 1st on Thursday, 2nd on Wednesday, 3rd on Tuesday, 4th on Monday, 5th on Sunday, 6th on Saturday, 7th on Friday. The exact clock time changes with your city and sunrise.

What is the difference between Yamaganda and Rahukaal?

Both are daily inauspicious 8-part slots, but because they take a different part on a different vaar, they fall at different times on the same day.

Is Yamaganda Kaal good or bad?

It is considered inauspicious — especially for starting new or auspicious work. (A traditional belief — cultural context, not a universal rule.)

Does the Yamaganda time change every day?

Yes; because it depends on the local sunrise, sunset and place, it changes daily — so check your city's panchang.