Reviewed by Dr. L. Nageshwwar Rao, PhD (Astrology), Consulting Astrologer · Last reviewed 24 May 2026 · How we compute this
Rahu Kaal (or Rahu Kalam) is a ~1.5-hour inauspicious period that shifts with sunrise and sunset each day, and changes by weekday. Get today's exact window for any place, plus the other two classical inauspicious periods — Yamaghanda Kala and Gulika Kala — all computed live from a real sidereal ephemeris, not a fixed table.
The classical method divides the day (sunrise → sunset) into 8 equal parts. Rahu Kaal occupies one of those slots, determined by the weekday:
Because the day length varies with latitude and season, the actual minutes of Rahu Kaal shift continuously through the year. Fixed tables that ignore real sunrise/sunset are approximations; ours is computed against the day's actual sun events at your location.
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Rahu Kaal (also Rahu Kalam) is a roughly 90-minute period each day, ruled by the shadow-planet Rahu, traditionally considered inauspicious for starting new ventures, signing contracts, travel or important ceremonies.
The day from sunrise to sunset is divided into eight equal parts. Rahu Kaal occupies one of those parts, fixed by weekday: Sunday 8th, Monday 2nd, Tuesday 7th, Wednesday 5th, Thursday 6th, Friday 4th, Saturday 3rd. The exact minutes therefore vary with latitude and season.
Two reasons. First, the weekday changes, which selects a different slot of the eight. Second, the day length itself changes through the year, so each slot's actual minute count expands in summer and contracts in winter.
Classical practice advises avoiding the start of new or significant undertakings — marriages, journeys, contracts, large purchases. Ongoing routine work is generally not affected, and remedial worship (Durga, Hanuman) during the window is considered protective.
All three are classical inauspicious windows derived from the same eight-fold division of the day. Rahu Kaal is the slot of Rahu; Yamaghanda is the slot of the upagraha Yama (the god of death and a son of Surya); Gulika Kala is the slot of the Saturn-upagraha Gulika. Each occupies a different fixed slot by weekday.
The classical Rahu Kaal applies to the daytime period from sunrise to sunset. Some traditions also compute a night Rahu Kaal by applying the same eight-fold division to sunset-to-sunrise, but it is not as widely observed.
Printed almanacs use a single reference sunrise (often the state capital). This tool uses your exact location's sunrise and sunset, so the window can shift by several minutes for cities even within the same state.
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