What is today's Tithi? When is Rahu Kaal today? Is this a good time to start something new?
This free Daily Panchang Calculator gives you the complete Hindu calendar details for any date — Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga, Karana and Vara (the five limbs of Panchang), along with sunrise, sunset, Abhijit Muhurat (most auspicious time) and inauspicious periods like Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda Kaal and Gulika Kaal. Select any date — today, tomorrow or any day in the future — and plan your activities accordingly.
How to Check Panchang for Any Date
Step 1 — Select a date Use the date picker or click the quick buttons — Today, Tomorrow, Yesterday or Next Week.
Step 2 — Enter your location (optional) Location affects sunrise and sunset times slightly. Default is set to New Delhi.
Step 3 — Read the Panchang See all 5 elements — Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga, Karana and Vara — along with Paksha (lunar fortnight).
Step 4 — Check timings Scroll down to see sunrise, sunset, Abhijit Muhurat (auspicious) and Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda Kaal, Gulika Kaal (inauspicious periods to avoid for new beginnings).
Understanding the Five Limbs of Panchang
Panchang literally means "five limbs" (Pancha = five, Anga = limb/part) in Sanskrit. It is the traditional Hindu almanac that has guided daily life, festivals and auspicious timing in India for centuries. The five elements are:
1. Tithi (Lunar Day): A Tithi is the time taken for the angular distance between the Sun and Moon to increase by 12 degrees. There are 30 Tithis in a lunar month — 15 in the Shukla Paksha (waxing/bright fortnight) and 15 in the Krishna Paksha (waning/dark fortnight). Tithis determine festival dates — for example Diwali falls on Krishna Paksha Amavasya (new moon) of Kartik month.
2. Nakshatra (Lunar Mansion): The constellation occupied by the Moon, one of 27 divisions of the zodiac. Nakshatra changes roughly every 24 to 30 hours and influences the auspiciousness of activities undertaken that day.
3. Yoga (Auspicious Combination): Calculated by adding the longitudes of the Sun and Moon together, divided into 27 Yogas. Each Yoga has its own auspicious or challenging quality for different activities.
4. Karana (Half-Tithi): Each Tithi is divided into two Karanas, giving 11 Karanas total in a cycle (4 fixed + 7 repeating). Karanas are used for determining suitability of specific actions during the day.
5. Vara (Weekday): The day of the week, each ruled by a specific planet — Sunday (Sun), Monday (Moon), Tuesday (Mars), Wednesday (Mercury), Thursday (Jupiter), Friday (Venus), Saturday (Saturn). This is the origin of weekday names in many languages worldwide.
RAHU KAAL EXPLAINED
What is Rahu Kaal and Why Do People Avoid It?
Rahu Kaal is considered an inauspicious period that occurs daily, lasting approximately 90 minutes (1.5 hours), with its timing depending on the day of the week and the duration of daylight.
Traditional beliefs about Rahu Kaal:
Avoid starting new ventures, signing contracts, or beginning journeys
Avoid important purchases, especially vehicles or property
Some avoid starting meals or important conversations
Existing activities can continue — it primarily applies to new beginnings
How Rahu Kaal timing is calculated: The daylight period (sunrise to sunset) is divided into 8 equal segments. Rahu Kaal occupies a different segment depending on the day of the week:
DayRahu Kaal Segment (of 8)Monday2ndTuesday7thWednesday5thThursday6thFriday4thSaturday3rdSunday8th
Since daylight duration varies by season, Rahu Kaal timing shifts slightly every day — it is not a fixed clock time.
What is Abhijit Muhurat?
Abhijit Muhurat is considered one of the most auspicious periods of the day — occurring around solar noon (midday), it lasts approximately 48 minutes (24 minutes before and after the midpoint of sunrise and sunset).
The name "Abhijit" means "one who cannot be defeated" — this Muhurat is considered so powerful that it is believed to nullify the effects of other inauspicious periods occurring at the same time. It is commonly used for starting new work, important meetings, and minor ceremonies when other auspicious windows are not available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is today's Tithi? Select today's date (default) in our calculator above to see the current Tithi instantly, along with whether it falls in Shukla Paksha (waxing moon) or Krishna Paksha (waning moon) and what percentage of the Tithi has elapsed.
Q2. What time is Rahu Kaal today? Our calculator shows Rahu Kaal timing for any selected date based on sunrise, sunset and the day of the week. Rahu Kaal timing changes daily because it depends on the length of daylight, which varies through the year.
Q3. Why does Panchang timing differ between websites and apps? Small differences (a few minutes) between different Panchang sources are normal and arise from slightly different Ayanamsa values, sunrise/sunset calculation methods, and rounding. Differences of more than 15-20 minutes may indicate a different calculation method (e.g., different Ayanamsa systems like Raman vs Lahiri) or location differences. For critical religious observances, follow your family's traditional Panchang source.
Q4. What is the difference between Amanta and Purnimanta calendars? India has two lunar calendar systems. The Amanta system (used in South India, Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal) starts the lunar month from Amavasya (new moon) to the next Amavasya. The Purnimanta system (used in North India) starts from Purnima (full moon) to the next Purnima. This causes the same Tithi to sometimes fall in different named months depending on the region — though the actual date and Tithi calculation itself remains the same.
Q5. Is Rahu Kaal the only inauspicious time in a day? No. Besides Rahu Kaal, traditional Panchang also identifies Yamaganda Kaal and Gulika Kaal as inauspicious periods, each occupying different segments of the day based on the weekday. All three are shown in our calculator. Additionally, certain Tithis (like Chaturthi, Navami, Chaturdashi) and certain Nakshatra-Vara combinations are considered less favourable for specific activities in deeper astrological analysis.
Q6. Can I use this Panchang to choose a wedding date? For major life events like weddings, Panchang Tithi, Nakshatra and Yoga are only some of the factors considered. A complete Muhurat for weddings also considers the couple's individual Kundlis, the specific month (some months like Chaturmas are avoided for weddings), Guru and Shukra Tara Bala, and several other factors. We recommend consulting a qualified astrologer for wedding date selection — this tool is best for daily reference and general planning.
Q7. What does Vikram Samvat mean and how is it different from the Gregorian year? Vikram Samvat is a traditional Hindu calendar era, believed to have started in 57 BCE — approximately 57 years ahead of the Gregorian (CE/AD) calendar. So the Gregorian year 2025 corresponds to approximately Vikram Samvat 2082 (the exact transition point depends on the specific month, since the Vikram Samvat new year falls around March-April in the Gregorian calendar).
Q8. What is Paksha and why does it matter? Paksha refers to the lunar fortnight — Shukla Paksha is the waxing moon period (new moon to full moon, 15 days) and Krishna Paksha is the waning moon period (full moon to new moon, 15 days). Many religious observances and fasting days (like Ekadashi) are tied to specific Tithis within a specific Paksha.
Q9. How accurate are the sunrise and sunset times shown? Sunrise and sunset times in our calculator are approximated based on seasonal patterns for North Indian latitudes. Actual times vary by exact longitude, latitude and elevation of your specific location, typically by a few minutes. For precise sunrise/sunset times for your exact city, cross-reference with a dedicated astronomical almanac or the Indian Meteorological Department.
Q10. Why do some festivals fall on different dates each year in the Gregorian calendar? Hindu festivals are based on the lunar calendar (Tithi), which does not align exactly with the 365-day solar Gregorian calendar. A lunar year is approximately 354 days, so lunar dates shift earlier by about 11 days each Gregorian year, with periodic adjustment months (Adhik Maas / leap months) added roughly every 32-33 months to realign with the solar year. This is why Diwali, Holi and other festivals fall on different Gregorian dates each year but always on the same Tithi.