Today's Panchang

What is Panchang (पंचांग)?

Panchang (पंचांग) is the traditional Hindu calendar and almanac that has guided Indian daily life, festivals, and rituals for thousands of years. The word comes from Sanskrit — Pancha (five) + Anga (limb) — referring to the five fundamental elements that make up this system: Tithi, Vara, Nakshatra, Yoga, and Karana.

Unlike the Gregorian calendar which is purely solar, the Hindu Panchang is a lunisolar system— it tracks both the Sun's and Moon's positions to determine dates, festivals, and auspicious timings. This is why Hindu festival dates shift each year relative to the English calendar but remain astronomically consistent within the Panchang system.

The Panchang is essential for determining Shubh Muhurat (auspicious timings), festival dates, Vrat (fasting) schedules, and daily spiritual practices. Every Hindu temple, family priest, and astrologer relies on the Panchang for their calculations. Our daily Panchang is computed from real planetary positions using the Swiss Ephemeris engine with Lahiri Ayanamsa — the same astronomical standard used by the Indian government's official calendar.

In traditional households, checking the Panchang is the first activity of the day. It tells you the current Tithi (for knowing which deity to worship), the ruling Nakshatra (for choosing activities), whether any inauspicious yoga is active, and which Karana governs the current period. Many people also use the Panchang to plan important events like weddings, business launches, Griha Pravesh (housewarming), and Mundan (first haircut) ceremonies.

The Panchang also tracks Rahu Kaal, Yamagandam, and Gulika Kaal — inauspicious daily periods that vary by weekday and location. By consulting the Panchang, you can plan your day to align important activities with favorable timings while avoiding problematic windows.

Panchang by City

Panchang timings are location-specific because sunrise, sunset and local coordinates change Tithi and muhurat boundaries. Select your city for today's local Panchang:

The Five Elements of Panchang (पंचांग के पाँच अंग)

1. Tithi (तिथि) — Lunar Day: A Tithi is determined by the angular distance between the Sun and Moon, with each Tithi covering 12 degrees of separation. There are 30 Tithis in a lunar month — 15 in the Shukla Paksha (waxing phase) from Pratipada to Purnima, and 15 in the Krishna Paksha (waning phase) from Pratipada to Amavasya. Each Tithi has specific characteristics and is ruled by a deity. For example, Chaturthi is sacred to Lord Ganesha, Ekadashi is observed as a Vrat day dedicated to Lord Vishnu, and Ashtami is associated with Goddess Durga.

2. Vara (वार) — Weekday: The 7 Varas correspond to the 7 classical planets. Ravivar (Sunday) is ruled by the Sun, Somvar (Monday) by the Moon, Mangalvar (Tuesday) by Mars, Budhvar (Wednesday) by Mercury, Guruvar (Thursday) by Jupiter, Shukravar (Friday) by Venus, and Shanivar (Saturday) by Saturn. Each Vara is considered favorable for activities aligned with its ruling planet.

3. Nakshatra (नक्षत्र) — Lunar Mansion: The zodiac is divided into 27 Nakshatras, each spanning 13 degrees and 20 minutes. The Moon transits through all 27 Nakshatras in approximately 27.3 days. Each Nakshatra has a ruling deity, planet, and specific characteristics that influence the nature of activities undertaken. For instance, Pushya Nakshatra is considered the most auspicious for buying gold and starting financial ventures.

4. Yoga (योग) — Sun-Moon Combination: There are 27 Yogas, each spanning 13 degrees and 20 minutes of the combined longitude of the Sun and Moon. They range from highly auspicious (like Siddhi Yoga, which is excellent for all activities) to inauspicious (like Vishkumbha, which indicates obstacles). Yogas are important for Muhurat selection and daily planning.

5. Karana (करण) — Half-Tithi: Each Tithi is divided into two Karanas, giving 60 Karanas per lunar month. There are 11 types of Karanas — 4 fixed (Shakuni, Chatushpad, Naga, Kimstughna) and 7 recurring (Bava, Balava, Kaulava, Taitila, Gara, Vanija, Vishti). The Vishti Karana, also called Bhadra, is considered inauspicious and is avoided for important activities.