The five limbs
Panchang means "five limbs" — the five measures that define a Vedic day. Here they are for Wednesday, 21 October 2026.
Sunrise, sunset and the Moon
Every window below is measured from sunrise, which is why a panchang is always tied to a place — these times are for New Delhi, India (IST).
- Sunrise
- 06:25
- Sunset
- 17:45
- Moonrise
- 14:50
- Moonset
- 01:25
Inauspicious windows to avoid
Three windows recur every day and shift with the weekday, so the Rahu Kaal that applied yesterday does not apply today.
| Window | Time |
|---|---|
| Rahu Kaal | 12:05–13:30 |
| Yamaganda Kaal | 07:50–09:15 |
| Gulika Kaal | 10:40–12:05 |
Traditionally these are avoided for starting anything important — a new venture, a journey, a purchase, or a ceremony. Work already under way is unaffected.
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Frequently asked
- What is the tithi today (21 October 2026)?
- The tithi is Dashami of the Shukla paksha. A tithi is a lunar day — the time the Moon takes to gain 12° on the Sun — so it does not line up neatly with a 24-hour clock day.
- What is Rahu Kaal and should I really avoid it?
- Rahu Kaal on this day runs 12:05 to 13:30 at New Delhi, India (IST). It is an inauspicious ninety-minute window calculated by dividing daylight into eight parts, with the position depending on the weekday. Tradition avoids starting new work in it; it is a timing convention, not a prediction of harm.
- Are these timings valid for my city?
- These are computed for New Delhi, India (IST). Because every window is derived from local sunrise, the timings shift with longitude and latitude — often by an hour or more outside north India. For your own city, use the free panchang calculator, which computes it for any location.
- Which nakshatra is the Moon in on 21 October 2026?
- The Moon is in Dhanishta. The Moon crosses roughly one nakshatra a day, which is why the nakshatra is the fastest-moving of the five limbs and the one daily readings lean on most.