Rahu Kaal explained: how to find it, what to avoid and what is fine

Rahu Kaal is a stretch of about ninety minutes every day that is traditionally avoided for starting new work. People check it before signing papers, buying a car, travelling or beginning an event. The rule is simple, and it is easy to work out.

How it is worked out

Take the time between sunrise and sunset and divide it into eight equal parts. Rahu Kaal is one of those parts, and which one depends on the weekday.

• Monday: the 2nd part.
• Tuesday: the 7th part.
• Wednesday: the 5th part.
• Thursday: the 6th part.
• Friday: the 4th part.
• Saturday: the 3rd part.
• Sunday: the 8th part.

On a day with sunrise at 6 am and sunset at 6 pm, each part is 90 minutes. Rahu Kaal on a Monday would then be 7:30 to 9:00 am. Because sunrise changes with the season and the city, the clock time moves too. A table from a different city can be off by half an hour or more.

What people avoid

• Starting a new business, signing contracts or buying a vehicle or property.
• Setting out on a trip or starting a new ceremony.
• Entering a new home or opening a shop.

What is fine

Things already in progress can continue. Routine work, travel that was already under way and daily prayer need no change. Most families treat it as a guide for fresh starts, not a rule for the whole day.

If your important date falls in Rahu Kaal, shifting it by even half an hour is usually enough. Look for a nearby gap in the day’s panchang.