Rahu Kalam day by day, every weekday explained

How to read this guide

Every weekday has its own fixed part number. The number determines when rahu kalam falls, but the exact clock time depends on your city's sunrise and sunset.

All example times below are from Chennai in January 2026, where sunrise is 06:35 and sunset is 18:00. That gives 685 minutes of daylight and a window of about 1 hour 26 minutes. In your city the numbers will look different.

Monday, part 2

Monday's rahu kalam falls just after sunrise. It is the week's earliest window.

In Chennai in January: about 08:01 – 09:27. It hits the first part of the workday. If you plan to sign something or start something new, it is wisest to wait until after half past nine.

Tuesday, part 7

Tuesday's rahu kalam falls in the late afternoon, part 7 of 8.

In Chennai in January: about 15:09 – 16:35. It hits the end of the workday. If you plan to close a deal or sign late in the day, check the window first.

Tuesday is already associated with Mars (Sevvai) in Tamil tradition, and many consider it a day that requires extra care for new beginnings, regardless of rahu kalam.

Wednesday, part 5

Wednesday's rahu kalam falls around midday, part 5 of 8.

In Chennai in January: about 12:17 – 13:43. It is lunch time, and for many the easiest day to navigate because the window falls during a natural break.

Thursday, part 6

Thursday's rahu kalam falls in the early afternoon, part 6 of 8.

In Chennai in January: about 13:43 – 15:09. Thursday is Guru day (Jupiter), considered generally auspicious in Tamil tradition. Many choose Thursday for new beginnings and plan around the rahu kalam window.

Friday, part 4

Friday's rahu kalam falls mid-morning, part 4 of 8.

In Chennai in January: about 10:53 – 12:17. It hits the productive mid-morning. Friday is associated with Venus (Shukra), and many consider it a good day for purchases, just not during the rahu kalam window.

Saturday, part 3

Saturday's rahu kalam falls in the morning, part 3 of 8.

In Chennai in January: about 09:27 – 10:53. Many Tamils already avoid starting important projects on Saturday because the day is associated with Saturn (Shani). With rahu kalam on top, the morning becomes a double avoid-window for new beginnings.

Sunday, part 8

Sunday's rahu kalam falls just before sunset, the week's latest window.

In Chennai in January: about 16:35 – 18:00. Because it is the very last part of daylight, it is rarely a problem in practice, most new beginnings happen earlier in the day.

The complete overview

Remember: the clock times apply only to Chennai in January. In your city, and in other seasons, the numbers will differ. Use our calculator for precise times.

The Tamil mnemonic

Most Tamils learn the part numbers through a verse: «மா, ரா, கா, பு, கு, வெ, செ», the first syllables of the Tamil weekday names, from Monday to Sunday. It gives part numbers 2, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 8.

An alternative memory aid: the numbers 7-1-6-4-5-3-2 (Sunday to Saturday) form the sentence 'Mother Saw Father Wearing The Turban Slowly', one word per part number.

Try it with your own city

Pick two cities below and see today's rahu kalam side by side. The numbers update based on the current sunrise and sunset.