Saturday · October 17, 2026 · India · IST
Rahu Kalam Today — October 17, 2026
9:04 AM – 10:33 AM
Rahu Kalam is an inauspicious window each day, traditionally avoided for starting new or important work.
Updated Sep 22, 2026, 4:34 PM IST · Hyderabad reference
In short
On October 17, 2026 (India, IST), rahu kalam is 9:04 AM – 10:33 AM.
What is Rahu Kalam?
Rahu Kalam is an inauspicious window each day, traditionally avoided for starting new or important work.
Rahu Kalam (also written Rahu Kaal) is a roughly 90-minute period each day that is considered inauspicious for beginning anything important — journeys, signing agreements, buying, or auspicious rites. It falls in a different one-eighth of the daylight period depending on the weekday.
The window is fixed by weekday: it sits in the 8th part on Monday, 2nd on Saturday, 7th on Friday, 5th on Wednesday, 6th on Thursday, 4th on Tuesday and 3rd on Sunday, measured from sunrise to sunset. Because it depends on local sunrise and sunset, the exact clock time shifts by a few minutes from city to city; this page uses Hyderabad (IST) as the reference.
Work already under way — daily puja, ongoing travel, routine tasks — need not be stopped during Rahu Kalam. It is specifically the starting of new, auspicious ventures that is avoided. The two related inauspicious periods, Yamagandam and Gulika Kalam, are shown alongside for the same reason.
Today's Panchangam at a glance
- Tithi
- Shukla Paksha Saptami
- Nakshatra
- Mula
- Rahu Kalam
- 9:04 AM – 10:33 AM
- Abhijit Muhurta
- 11:37 AM – 12:24 PM
- Sunrise
- 6:08 AM
- Sunset
- 5:54 PM
Rahu Kalam this week
Next 7 days (India, IST · Hyderabad reference).
Rahu Kalam by weekday
Rahu Kalam sits in a fixed one-eighth of the daylight period, different for each weekday. The approximate times below assume a 6:00 AM sunrise and 6:00 PM sunset; the exact window shifts with the actual sunrise and sunset for your date and city.
| Weekday | Rahu Kalam | Approx. time |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday | 8th part of daylight | 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM |
| Monday | 2nd part of daylight | 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM |
| Tuesday | 7th part of daylight | 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 5th part of daylight | 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM |
| Thursday | 6th part of daylight | 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM |
| Friday | 4th part of daylight | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Saturday (today) | 3rd part of daylight | 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM |
FAQ
What is the rahu kalam today (October 17, 2026)?
Rahu Kalam on October 17, 2026 is 9:04 AM – 10:33 AM (India, IST).
What should I avoid during Rahu Kalam?
Avoid starting new ventures — journeys, signing contracts, purchases, weddings, griha pravesh or other auspicious rites. Routine work and ongoing daily puja need not be stopped.
How is Rahu Kalam calculated?
The daylight period (sunrise to sunset) is divided into eight equal parts, and Rahu Kalam occupies one fixed part by weekday. Since it depends on sunrise/sunset, it shifts slightly by city.
Which part of the day is Rahu Kalam on each weekday?
It falls in a fixed one-eighth of daylight by weekday: Monday 2nd part, Tuesday 7th, Wednesday 5th, Thursday 6th, Friday 4th, Saturday 3rd and Sunday 8th (counting from sunrise).
Is it OK to travel during Rahu Kalam?
Starting a journey during Rahu Kalam is traditionally avoided. If travel is unavoidable, some follow the custom of taking a little curd (or curd with sugar) before leaving as a remedy.
Can I do puja or worship during Rahu Kalam?
Yes. Daily puja and, in particular, worship of Rahu, Durga or Kali is considered favourable during Rahu Kalam — only the starting of new, auspicious activities is avoided.
What are Yamaganda and Gulika Kalam?
They are two other inauspicious daily windows, calculated the same way as Rahu Kalam (one-eighth of daylight by weekday). Like Rahu Kalam, they are avoided for beginning important new work; Gulika Kalam is regarded as the most inauspicious.
Does Rahu Kalam apply to daily puja?
No. Puja already part of your daily routine may continue. Rahu Kalam mainly governs the starting of new, auspicious activities.
How this is calculated
Timings are computed with the Drik (observational) method using the Lahiri (Chitra-paksha) ayanamsha, for India (IST) with Hyderabad as the reference location. Sunrise- and sunset-based windows — Rahu Kalam, Choghadiya and the muhurtas — are derived from the day's actual sunrise and sunset, so they shift a few minutes by city.
