What is Choghadiya?
Choghadiya is the traditional way Gujarati families pick a good time of day. The day (sunrise to sunset) and the night (sunset to the next sunrise) are each split into eight equal parts. Each part is one Choghadiya, and its name tells you whether that time is auspicious.
Last updated:
Where the name comes from
"Choghadiya" means four ghadi. A ghadi is about 24 minutes, so one Choghadiya is roughly an hour and a half. Its real length depends on the length of the day: in summer the day Choghadiya are longer and the night ones shorter, and the reverse in winter.
The seven Choghadiya and what they mean
There are seven Choghadiya: three auspicious, one neutral and three inauspicious. By tradition each has a ruling planet.
| Choghadiya | Type | Ruler | Traditionally used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amrit | ✓ Very good | Moon | Any auspicious work: puja, purchases, new beginnings |
| Shubh | ✓ Good | Jupiter | Weddings, puja, religious work |
| Labh | ✓ Good | Mercury | Business, starting studies, money matters |
| Chal | ~ Neutral | Venus | Travel and everyday work |
| Udveg | ✕ Avoid | Sun | Avoid new beginnings; some consider it fine for government work |
| Kaal | ✕ Avoid | Saturn | Avoid auspicious work |
| Rog | ✕ Avoid | Mars | Avoid auspicious work |
How Choghadiya is calculated
You need only three times: today's sunrise, today's sunset and tomorrow's sunrise.
- Divide the time from sunrise to sunset by 8. That is the length of one day Choghadiya.
- Divide the time from sunset to the next sunrise by 8. That is the length of one night Choghadiya.
- The weekday decides which Choghadiya comes first (table below); the rest follow a fixed order.
Example: Ahmedabad, Sunday, 1 November 2026. Sunrise 6:45 am, sunset 6:02 pm. The day lasts 11 hr 17 min, so one day Choghadiya is 1 hr 25 min. The night lasts 12 hr 43 min, so one night Choghadiya is 1 hr 35 min. On Sunday the first Choghadiya is Udveg: 6:45 am – 8:09 am.
Order of Choghadiya by weekday
By day the order runs Udveg → Chal → Labh → Amrit → Kaal → Shubh → Rog. At night each Choghadiya moves five steps forward in that order. The eighth day Choghadiya is always the same as the first.
| Weekday | Day Choghadiya | Night Choghadiya |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Udveg, Chal, Labh, Amrit, Kaal, Shubh, Rog, Udveg | Shubh, Amrit, Chal, Rog, Kaal, Labh, Udveg, Shubh |
| Monday | Amrit, Kaal, Shubh, Rog, Udveg, Chal, Labh, Amrit | Chal, Rog, Kaal, Labh, Udveg, Shubh, Amrit, Chal |
| Tuesday | Rog, Udveg, Chal, Labh, Amrit, Kaal, Shubh, Rog | Kaal, Labh, Udveg, Shubh, Amrit, Chal, Rog, Kaal |
| Wednesday | Labh, Amrit, Kaal, Shubh, Rog, Udveg, Chal, Labh | Udveg, Shubh, Amrit, Chal, Rog, Kaal, Labh, Udveg |
| Thursday | Shubh, Rog, Udveg, Chal, Labh, Amrit, Kaal, Shubh | Amrit, Chal, Rog, Kaal, Labh, Udveg, Shubh, Amrit |
| Friday | Chal, Labh, Amrit, Kaal, Shubh, Rog, Udveg, Chal | Rog, Kaal, Labh, Udveg, Shubh, Amrit, Chal, Rog |
| Saturday | Kaal, Shubh, Rog, Udveg, Chal, Labh, Amrit, Kaal | Labh, Udveg, Shubh, Amrit, Chal, Rog, Kaal, Labh |
The day starts at sunrise
In the panchang the day changes at sunrise, not midnight. At 2 am on Monday, Sunday night's Choghadiya is still running. This site shows "Running now" by the same rule.
Why every city has different times
Sunrise and sunset depend on a city's latitude and longitude. Even Ahmedabad and Rajkot differ by a few minutes, and London or New York have a completely different timetable. Always check your own city. Choose a city.
How we calculate the times
Sunrise is the moment the upper edge of the Sun reaches the horizon, with standard atmospheric refraction. The calculation uses astronomy-engine, an open astronomy library. Times are rounded to the nearest minute. Some printed panchangs use the centre of the Sun, which can differ by 1–2 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Chal Choghadiya good or bad?
Chal is neutral. Tradition treats it as fine for travel and everyday work; for big auspicious beginnings, Amrit, Shubh or Labh are preferred.
Which Choghadiya is good for buying a vehicle or gold?
Most families buy during Amrit, Shubh or Labh. For a special occasion, ask your family priest.
Is night Choghadiya valid?
Yes. The eight night Choghadiya count just as much, and on Diwali many families choose a night Shubh Choghadiya for Chopda Pujan.
Why do the times differ by 1–2 minutes from my panchang?
The definition of sunrise (edge or centre of the Sun) and the exact location used cause small differences like this.
Is Choghadiya the same as Rahu Kaal?
No. Rahu Kaal is a separate inauspicious part of the day, followed more in South India. In Gujarat, Choghadiya is the usual guide for daily work.