By Simran Sukhnani
Copyright timesnownews
In India, every festival is always accompanied with social media buzzing about Rahu Kaal. Whether it is Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri or Diwali, many people carefully search up the calendars and consult their trusted astrology practitioners to check the Rahu Kall period before stepping into anything important. But what exactly is this period and why does this come up every festive season? What is Rahu Kaal? Rahu Kaal literally translates to ‘the period of Rahu,’ and refers to a certain time spam every day that is considered to be auspicious for starting new work, journeys or important decisions. This is because according to Vedic astrology, Rahu is regarded to be the shadow planet that is associated with delays, illusions and unexpected changes. The belief is commonly that the activities initiated during this period of time may not yield favourable results and may be welcomed with obstacles. Why it matters more during festivals Festivals in India are considered to be the time of new beginnings, may it be buying gold, starting a new business, shifting homes or performing pujas, this time is said to hold spiritual and emotional weight. And so people tend to avoid the Rahu Kaal to make sure that the positivity flow is unhindered. This is why, every festive season, “Rahu Kaal Timings” is something everyone searches for and trends heavily across news portals, astrology apps and even social media updates. How Rahu Kaal is calculated Unlike fixed hours for certain events like the eclipse, Rahu Kaal is a time period that varies daily depending on the sunrise time. The day between sunrise and sunset is divided into 8 equal parts and one of these segments is assigned to Rahu. It typically lasts about 90 minutes and changes with every day of the week. The spiritual perspective At its core, Rahu Kaal is not about fear mongering but it is to guide you towards mindfulness. Festivals are all about aligning your energies with the higher power and avoiding the Rahu Kaal is seen as a way of ensuring one’s intentions meet the cosmic harmony as well. Interestingly, Rahu Kaal only applies to new undertakings; continuing routine work or spiritual practices is believed to be unaffected. Modern Relevance Even in today’s fast-paced life, Rahu Kaal retains cultural significance. For some, it’s about faith and tradition; for others, it serves as a pause, an invitation to reflect before beginning something important. This balance of caution and reverence is what keeps the concept alive, especially during festive seasons when spirituality meets daily life.
