Rahu Kaal and Choghadiya Explained Simply
Two short words come up before every puja or journey: Rahu Kaal and choghadiya. Here is what they mean and how to use them without confusion.
Rahu Kaal
Rahu Kaal is a stretch of about an hour and a half every day that is traditionally avoided for starting something new. The daytime from sunrise to sunset is divided into eight equal parts, and Rahu Kaal takes one part. Which part depends on the weekday:
- Monday: second part
- Tuesday: seventh part
- Wednesday: fifth part
- Thursday: sixth part
- Friday: fourth part
- Saturday: third part
- Sunday: eighth part
Because sunrise changes by city and season, the clock time changes too. If you are already in the middle of a task, there is no need to stop for Rahu Kaal. It is about beginnings.
Choghadiya
Choghadiya divides the day, and the night, into eight slots each of about 90 minutes. Each slot has a name and a character:
- Good: Amrit, Shubh and Labh
- Neutral: Char (or Chal), good for travel
- Avoid for new starts: Udveg, Kaal and Rog
The first slot of the day depends on the weekday, and the others follow in a fixed order.
Using them together
- Open today's panchang for your city.
- Note the Rahu Kaal and mark it as the window to avoid.
- Pick a good choghadiya slot that does not overlap Rahu Kaal.
- Start your puja, journey or task then. If it is not possible, do not worry, a sincere start matters more than the clock.
The "Your day" guide on the home page does this for you after you enter your birth details once.