Rahu Kalam Today — Time, Meaning & Calculation

Last updated: May 2026

What is Rahu Kalam?

Rahu Kalam (రాహు కాలం) is an inauspicious period of approximately 1.5 hours that occurs every day according to Vedic astrology. It is attributed to Rahu, one of the nine celestial bodies (Navagraha) in Hindu astronomy. Rahu is a shadow planet — it represents the Moon's ascending (north) node, the point where the Moon's orbital path crosses the ecliptic from south to north.

In traditional belief, activities begun during Rahu Kalam may face obstacles or unfavorable outcomes. Many Telugu families check Rahu Kalam timing before scheduling important events, much like consulting the broader Panchangam for Muhurtham selection.

How is Rahu Kalam Calculated?

The calculation is straightforward and based on the day's sunrise and sunset times:

Calculate the total daylight duration: Sunset time minus Sunrise time
Divide this duration into 8 equal segments
Each day of the week has a fixed segment number assigned to Rahu Kalam

Weekly Rahu Kalam Segments

Day	Segment	Approx. Time (for ~6 AM sunrise)
Sunday (Ravivaram)	8th segment	~4:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Monday (Somavaram)	2nd segment	~7:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Tuesday (Mangalavaram)	7th segment	~3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday (Budhavaram)	5th segment	~12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Thursday (Guruvaram)	6th segment	~1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Friday (Shukravaram)	4th segment	~10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Saturday (Shanivaram)	3rd segment	~9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Memory aid: The segment order for Monday through Sunday (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) can be remembered with the mnemonic: "Mother Saw Father Wearing The Turban Slowly" — Mon(2), Sat(3), Fri(4), Wed(5), Thu(6), Tue(7), Sun(8).

Why approximate times? Because Rahu Kalam depends on local sunrise and sunset, the timing varies by city and season. A city near the equator has roughly equal day and night, while cities at higher latitudes have significantly longer days in summer and shorter days in winter — shifting Rahu Kalam accordingly.

What to Avoid During Rahu Kalam

Traditional practice advises avoiding the following activities during Rahu Kalam:

Starting new business ventures or signing contracts
Beginning travel, especially long journeys
Purchasing property, vehicles, or valuables
Performing ceremonies such as weddings, Griha Pravesham, or Upanayanam
Starting new courses of study or taking exams

What is Acceptable During Rahu Kalam

Rahu Kalam does not require stopping all activity. The following are generally considered acceptable:

Continuing work that was already in progress before Rahu Kalam began
Routine daily activities and household tasks
Emergency situations where delay is not practical
Worship and prayer (some traditions actually recommend Rahu-specific prayers during this time)

Other Inauspicious Periods

Yamagandam

Yamagandam is another inauspicious period calculated similarly to Rahu Kalam, but using a different segment assignment for each day. It is attributed to Yama, the deity of death and dharma. While considered less restrictive than Rahu Kalam, many families avoid starting important activities during Yamagandam as well.

Gulika Kalam

Gulika Kalam (also called Kuligai) is a third inauspicious period, attributed to Gulika (a sub-planet associated with Saturn). It is considered particularly unfavorable for journeys and medical procedures. Like Rahu Kalam, it is calculated by dividing daylight into 8 segments and assigning a fixed segment per weekday.

Check Rahu Kalam for Your City

Our Telugu Panchangam Daily calculator computes Rahu Kalam, Yamagandam, and Gulika Kalam times based on sunrise and sunset data for your selected city. Check today's timings now:

Hyderabad — Rahu Kalam & Panchangam
Chennai — Rahu Kalam & Panchangam
Dallas — Rahu Kalam & Panchangam
London — Rahu Kalam & Panchangam

Learn more about auspicious timings in our Muhurtham Dates 2026 guide, or explore the fundamentals in What is Telugu Panchangam?