Rahu Kaal Calculator
Rahu Kaal Today
आज का राहु काल
Tuesday, 4 August 2026 · मंगलवार
Calculated for New Delhi, India using Swiss Ephemeris
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Calculated with Swiss Ephemeris on the Lahiri ayanamsa - the same method a traditional Jyotishi follows.
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Ruled by Yama · Avoid travel
Ruled by Saturn · Avoid auspicious work
Today's Panchang Summary
Weekly Rahu Kaal Reference
Weekly Rahu Kaal Reference
Approximate times based on 6:00 AM sunrise. Use the calculator above for exact timings.
About Rahu Kaal(राहु काल के बारे में)
About Rahu Kaal(राहु काल के बारे में)
Rahu Kaal (राहु काल) is one of the three inauspicious daily periods in Vedic astrology, alongside Yamagandam and Gulika Kaal. It lasts approximately 90 minutes each day and is ruled by the shadow planet Rahu — the north node of the Moon. Most Hindus avoid starting new ventures, signing documents, or beginning journeys during this period.
The timing of Rahu Kaal changes every day because it depends on the day of the week and your local sunrise and sunset times. Our calculator uses the same astronomical engine (Swiss Ephemeris with Lahiri Ayanamsa) as the Muhurat Calculator and Daily Panchang to give you precise, location-aware timings.
For a complete picture of auspicious and inauspicious timings throughout the day, including hourly Muhurat analysis, visit our Shubh Muhurat page.
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Today
Today's Rahu Kaal Snapshot
Use the live Rahu Kaal calculator above for the exact local start and end time.
- Date
- Wednesday, 5 August 2026
- Default city
- New Delhi, India
- Sunrise
- 05:48
- Rahu Kaal
- 15:47-17:26
What is Rahu Kaal (राहु काल)?
Rahu Kaal (राहु काल), also spelled Rahu Kalam or Raahu Kaalam, is one of the most widely observed inauspicious time periods in Hindu Vedic astrology. It is a daily window of approximately 90 minutes ruled by the shadow planet Rahu (the north node of the Moon). According to Vedic tradition, any new activity initiated during Rahu Kaal is believed to face obstacles, unexpected complications, financial losses, or outright failure.
The concept of Rahu Kaal is deeply rooted in the mythology of the Samudra Manthan(churning of the ocean). When the demon Svarbhanu disguised himself as a deva to drink the nectar of immortality (Amrit), Lord Vishnu's Sudarshan Chakra severed his head. The head became Rahu and the body became Ketu — the two shadow planets (Chaya Grahas) that cause eclipses. Because Rahu obtained immortality through deception, his period is associated with illusion, confusion, and hidden problems.
Rahu Kaal is observed across India, but is especially prominent in South India (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala) where it is considered mandatory to check before starting any new endeavor. In North India, while awareness is growing, many families have traditionally relied more on the overall Panchang and Muhurat system for daily timing decisions.
It is crucial to understand that Rahu Kaal affects only the initiation of new activities. Routine work, ongoing projects, emergency situations, and activities already in progress are completely unaffected. If you have already started a journey before Rahu Kaal begins, you do not need to stop. Similarly, eating food, taking medicine, or performing daily duties during Rahu Kaal carries no negative consequence.
How is Rahu Kaal Calculated?
The calculation of Rahu Kaal is based on dividing the total daytime hours into 8 equal segments. The total daytime is measured from local sunrise to local sunset. Each segment is therefore approximately 90 minutes long (though this varies by season — longer segments in summer when days are longer, shorter in winter).
Each day of the week, a specific segment number is assigned to Rahu. The traditional sequence, starting from Sunday, is: Monday = 2nd segment, Saturday = 3rd, Friday = 4th, Wednesday = 5th, Thursday = 6th, Tuesday = 7th, Sunday = 8th. A popular mnemonic in Hindi is "मा, श, शु, बु, गु, मं, र" — mapping the weekdays to segments 2 through 8.
Because the calculation depends on local sunrise and sunset, Rahu Kaal timings vary from city to city. Delhi and Mumbai will have different Rahu Kaal times on the same day because their sunrise and sunset times differ. This is why generic tables showing fixed times like "7:30-9:00 on Monday" are inaccurate — the actual timing shifts throughout the year as day length changes. Our calculator uses real astronomical data for your location to provide precise timings.
Rahu Kaal Timings by Day of the Week
| Day | Rahu Kaal | Yamaganda | Gulika Kaal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday (रविवार) | 16:30–18:00 (8th part) | 12:00–13:30 | 15:00–16:30 |
| Monday (सोमवार) | 07:30–09:00 (2nd part) | 10:30–12:00 | 13:30–15:00 |
| Tuesday (मंगलवार) | 15:00–16:30 (7th part) | 09:00–10:30 | 12:00–13:30 |
| Wednesday (बुधवार) | 12:00–13:30 (5th part) | 07:30–09:00 | 10:30–12:00 |
| Thursday (गुरुवार) | 13:30–15:00 (6th part) | 06:00–07:30 | 09:00–10:30 |
| Friday (शुक्रवार) | 10:30–12:00 (4th part) | 15:00–16:30 | 07:30–09:00 |
| Saturday (शनिवार) | 09:00–10:30 (3rd part) | 13:30–15:00 | 06:00–07:30 |
*Classical windows assuming a 6:00 AM–6:00 PM sun day. Actual times vary by city and season — use the live table above for exact timings.
Yamagandam and Gulika Kaal
Along with Rahu Kaal, two other inauspicious periods are observed daily: Yamagandam (यमगंडम) and Gulika Kaal (गुलिक काल). Yamagandam is ruled by Yama, the lord of death, and is especially avoided for travel and health-related decisions. Gulika Kaal is ruled by Gulika (a satellite of Saturn) and is considered unfavorable for any auspicious beginning.
Like Rahu Kaal, both Yamagandam and Gulika Kaal are calculated by dividing daylight hours into 8 segments, but they use different segment assignments per weekday. Together, these three periods — Rahu Kaal, Yamagandam, and Gulika Kaal — mark approximately 4.5 hours of the day as inauspicious for new beginnings. Checking all three before starting any important activity is a common practice.
Rahu Kaal by City
Rahu Kaal is city-specific because it is calculated from local sunrise and sunset. Select your city for today's accurate Rahu Kaal timing:
What to Avoid and What is Safe During Rahu Kaal
Avoid starting: New business ventures, signing contracts, buying property or vehicles, starting a journey, conducting interviews, filing legal cases, performing weddings or engagements, Griha Pravesh (housewarming), Mundan (first haircut), Naamkaran (naming ceremony), and any other auspicious ceremony.
Safe to do: Continue ongoing work, eat meals, take medicine, attend to emergencies, perform daily puja and routine rituals, study, exercise, and tend to household chores. Special exception: Worshipping Lord Ganesha, Goddess Durga, and performing Rahu-specific remedies (like visiting a Rahu temple or chanting Rahu mantras) is actually considered beneficial during Rahu Kaal.
How Accurate Is This Rahu Kaal?
Today's Rahu Kaal is computed by the same astronomical engine a serious Jyotishi relies on — the Swiss Ephemeris, which fixes every planet's position to sub-arcsecond precision, read against the Lahiri ayanamsa (the sidereal zodiac Vedic astrology uses). No fixed-calendar shortcuts, no rounded almanac tables.
We calibrate that engine to within ±5 minutes on every time-of-day value, and an exact match on tithi and nakshatra names — so the figures you read here are the same ones your family astrologer would quote from the panchang.
Rahu Kaal is derived from your city's real sunrise and sunset, not a fixed 06:00–18:00 day — so the window shifts correctly with the season and your location.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rahu Kaal and why should it be avoided?
Rahu Kaal (राहु काल) is a daily inauspicious period of about 90 minutes ruled by the shadow planet Rahu. Starting new activities during this window is traditionally avoided because Rahu is associated with confusion, obstacles, and hidden problems. The timing varies by weekday and location, calculated as one-eighth of the daylight hours. It applies only to initiating new work — ongoing tasks, routine duties, and emergencies are unaffected.
What is the Rahu Kaal time today?
Rahu Kaal timings change daily based on the day of the week and your location's sunrise and sunset. Use the calculator above to get today's accurate Rahu Kaal window for your city — the timing is derived from real local sunrise/sunset, not a fixed 06:00–18:00 day.
Is Rahu Kaal the same for all cities?
No. Rahu Kaal timings are location-specific because they are calculated from local sunrise and sunset. Cities at different latitudes and longitudes have different sunrise/sunset times, so their Rahu Kaal windows differ — Chennai will differ from Delhi by several minutes. Always use a location-aware calculator for accurate timings.
How is Rahu Kaal calculated?
Rahu Kaal is calculated by dividing the total daylight (sunrise to sunset) into 8 equal parts. Each weekday assigns a specific segment to Rahu: Monday the 2nd part, Saturday the 3rd, Friday the 4th, Wednesday the 5th, Thursday the 6th, Tuesday the 7th, and Sunday the 8th.
Can I do puja during Rahu Kaal?
Daily puja, routine prayers, and meditation are fine during Rahu Kaal. In fact it is considered an especially powerful time for worshipping Lord Ganesha and Goddess Durga and for performing Rahu-specific upay — many Rahu temples see their highest footfall during Rahu Kaal. Only the start of new worldly activities is avoided.
What is the difference between Rahu Kaal and Yamagandam?
Both are inauspicious daily periods calculated from sunrise and sunset, but they are ruled by different forces. Rahu Kaal is ruled by Rahu and linked to obstacles and deception. Yamagandam is ruled by Yama and is particularly avoided for travel and health decisions. They fall at different times of day and use different weekday-to-segment mappings.