Jyotish guide
Rahu Kalam Explained — Inauspicious Time of Day
Rahu Kalam (Rahu Kaal) is a 1½-hour-style segment of the daytime considered unfit for starting auspicious activities. It rotates by weekday and is measured between local sunrise and sunset.
It is a folk-electional convention widely used in India, often listed with Yamaganda and Gulika. For formal muhurta, classical Panchang limbs still take priority.
Check Rahu Kalam today →How Rahu Kalam is timed
Daytime (sunrise to sunset) is divided into eight parts. Each weekday assigns Rahu to a different eighth. Because sunrise/sunset change by city and season, “Rahu Kalam today” must be local.
Vedaansh computes Rahu Kalam, Gulika, and Yamaganda from astronomical sunrise/sunset for your selected location.
When people avoid it
Commonly avoided: new business openings, weddings, travel starts, and property registrations. Routine work and emergencies are not usually paused for Rahu Kalam.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Rahu Kalam the same in every city?
- No. It depends on local sunrise and sunset. Always use your city on a location-aware Panchang.
- Is Rahu Kalam part of classical Panchang?
- The five limbs are Tithi, Vara, Nakshatra, Yoga, and Karana. Rahu Kalam is a popular additional weekday window shown alongside Panchang in modern almanacs.