Rahu Kaal Kya Hai? How It Is Calculated, and Why It Runs 78 to 104 Minutes in Delhi
Rahu Kaal is one-eighth of the daytime, from sunrise to sunset, that tradition sets aside for no new beginnings. Which of the eight parts it is depends on the weekday. It is often called a 90-minute period, but the length changes with the season. In New Delhi it runs about 104 minutes on 21 June 2027 and about 78 minutes on 22 December 2027.
संक्षेप में: राहु काल दिन के समय, यानी सूर्योदय से सूर्यास्त तक, का आठवाँ भाग है, और कौन सा भाग होगा यह वार से तय होता है। यह हमेशा 90 मिनट का नहीं होता। नई दिल्ली में जून के अंत में यह लगभग 104 मिनट और दिसंबर के अंत में लगभग 78 मिनट का होता है। इस समय नया काम शुरू न करने की परंपरा है, चल रहा काम जारी रह सकता है। पूरा लेख हिंदी में पढ़ें →
How to work it out
Take your local sunrise and sunset, divide the daytime into eight equal parts, then pick the part for that weekday:
| Day | Part of the day |
|---|---|
| Monday | 2nd |
| Tuesday | 7th |
| Wednesday | 5th |
| Thursday | 6th |
| Friday | 4th |
| Saturday | 3rd |
| Sunday | 8th |
A worked example: on Monday, 2 November 2026, sunrise in New Delhi was 6:34 AM and sunset 5:35 PM, a daytime of 11 hours 1 minute. One-eighth of that is about 83 minutes. Monday takes the 2nd part, so Rahu Kaal ran from 7:56 AM to 9:19 AM.
Why a fixed table is wrong
Printed charts often say "Monday 7:30 to 9:00" for every city and every month. Those timings assume a 6 AM sunrise and a 12-hour day. Real days are different:
| New Delhi | Sunrise - sunset | Rahu Kaal | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, 21 June 2027 | 5:24 AM - 7:22 PM | 7:09 AM - 8:53 AM | 104 min |
| Monday, 2 November 2026 | 6:34 AM - 5:35 PM | 7:56 AM - 9:19 AM | 83 min |
| Wednesday, 22 December 2027 | 7:10 AM - 5:29 PM | 12:19 PM - 1:37 PM | 78 min |
The city matters too. On Monday, 2 November 2026, Rahu Kaal began at 7:06 AM in Kolkata and 8:10 AM in Ahmedabad, 64 minutes apart. That is why the Rahu Kaal Today page calculates it for each city.
What to avoid, and what is fine
Tradition advises against starting something new in this window: signing an agreement, beginning a journey, a puja, an investment, a purchase or a new venture. Work already under way can simply continue, and routine tasks, prayer or rest are fine.
Many people recite the Rahu beej mantra or pray during this time. If your flight or meeting falls in Rahu Kaal, there is no need to panic; the advice concerns what you choose to begin when you do have a choice. Gulika Kaal and Yamaganda are read in a similar way, and a good muhurat leaves all three out.
Rahu Kaal: FAQs
What is Rahu Kaal?
One of the eight equal parts of the daytime, chosen by weekday, which tradition treats as unsuitable for starting new work.
Is Rahu Kaal always 90 minutes?
No. It is one-eighth of your daytime, so in New Delhi it is about 104 minutes in late June and about 78 minutes in late December.
Does Rahu Kaal happen at night?
The Rahu Kaal in common use is calculated for the daytime only, from sunrise to sunset.
Can I travel during Rahu Kaal?
Tradition advises against beginning a journey in it. If you cannot change the time, many people leave anyway after a short prayer.
Why is Rahu Kaal different in my city?
Because sunrise and sunset differ from place to place. On the same day, two Indian cities can differ by an hour.
See today's timings for 12 cities on Rahu Kaal Today. Developers can get Rahu Kaal with the daily panchang through the AstroLogics API.
