United States · Central Time (CST / CDT)
Panchang today in Chicago: choghadiya, Rahu kaal and tithi
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Chicago, with Devon Avenue and the western suburbs, has one of the oldest Indian communities in the US Midwest. This page gives the full daily panchang worked out for Chicago itself, so you do not have to convert an Indian timing or guess the daylight saving change.
Panchang for Chicago, Friday, 2 October 2026
| Element | Today in Chicago |
|---|---|
| Vaar (weekday) | Friday |
| Tithi at sunrise | Saptami · Krishna Paksha |
| Tithi ends | Fri 2 Oct, 9:30 PM |
| Nakshatra | Mrigashira |
| Yoga | Vyatipata |
| Moon sign | Mithun (Gemini) |
| Sunrise | 6:48 AM |
| Sunset | 6:30 PM |
| Moonrise | 10:32 PM |
| Moonset | 1:54 PM |
| Day length | 11h 42m |
| Time zone offset | UTC-5 |
Rahu kaal, Yamaganda, Gulika and Abhijit in Chicago
| Period | Start | End | Traditional reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rahu kaal | 11:11 AM | 12:39 PM | Avoided for new starts |
| Yamaganda | 3:34 PM | 5:02 PM | Avoided for new starts |
| Gulika kaal | 8:16 AM | 9:44 AM | Avoided for new starts in many traditions |
| Abhijit muhurat | 12:16 PM | 1:02 PM | Favoured midday window |
Day choghadiya in Chicago
| Choghadiya | Start | End | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Char | 6:48 AM | 8:16 AM | Good |
| Labh | 8:16 AM | 9:44 AM | Good |
| Amrit | 9:44 AM | 11:11 AM | Good |
| Kaal | 11:11 AM | 12:39 PM | Avoid |
| Shubh | 12:39 PM | 2:07 PM | Good |
| Rog | 2:07 PM | 3:34 PM | Avoid |
| Udveg | 3:34 PM | 5:02 PM | Avoid |
| Char | 5:02 PM | 6:30 PM | Good |
Night choghadiya in Chicago
| Choghadiya | Start | End | Reading |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rog | 6:30 PM | 8:02 PM | Avoid |
| Kaal | 8:02 PM | 9:35 PM | Avoid |
| Labh | 9:35 PM | 11:07 PM | Good |
| Udveg | 11:07 PM | 12:39 AM | Avoid |
| Shubh | 12:39 AM | 2:12 AM | Good |
| Amrit | 2:12 AM | 3:44 AM | Good |
| Char | 3:44 AM | 5:17 AM | Good |
| Rog | 5:17 AM | 6:49 AM | Avoid |
Next 7 days in Chicago
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Tithi | Nakshatra | Rahu kaal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday, 2 October | 6:48 AM | 6:30 PM | Saptami | Mrigashira | 11:11 AM to 12:39 PM |
| Saturday, 3 October | 6:49 AM | 6:28 PM | Ashtami | Ardra | 9:44 AM to 11:11 AM |
| Sunday, 4 October | 6:50 AM | 6:26 PM | Navami | Punarvasu | 4:59 PM to 6:26 PM |
| Monday, 5 October | 6:51 AM | 6:25 PM | Dashami | Pushya | 8:18 AM to 9:45 AM |
| Tuesday, 6 October | 6:52 AM | 6:23 PM | Ekadashi | Ashlesha | 3:30 PM to 4:57 PM |
| Wednesday, 7 October | 6:54 AM | 6:21 PM | Dwadashi | Magha | 12:37 PM to 2:03 PM |
| Thursday, 8 October | 6:55 AM | 6:20 PM | Trayodashi | Purva Phalguni | 2:03 PM to 3:28 PM |
Chicago time compared with India
Today Delhi sees sunrise at 6:14 AM IST and Chicago at 6:48 AM local time. Delhi's Rahu kaal is 10:41 AM to 12:10 PM IST, while Chicago's is 11:11 AM to 12:39 PM local time. The two are not a simple time zone shift of each other, because each is one eighth of that city's own day.
- Chicago uses Central Time (CST / CDT); today that is UTC-5 against India's UTC+5:30.
- Latitude 41.88 and longitude -87.63 decide local sunrise and sunset.
- The tithi and nakshatra change at the same instant worldwide, so they can change on a different local date.
How sunrise and Rahu kaal change through the year in Chicago
The United States spans several time zones and uses daylight saving from March to November. A tithi that starts in the morning in India often starts the previous evening or night in New Jersey, and the previous afternoon on the West Coast.
That is why many festival dates for US families are decided by the local sunrise or moonrise rather than the Indian date. Our tables show both the local clock time and the date.
| Day | Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length | Each choghadiya / Rahu kaal | Offset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | 2026-03-20 | 6:53 AM | 7:02 PM | 12h 9m | 91 min | UTC-5 |
| June solstice | 2026-06-21 | 5:15 AM | 8:29 PM | 15h 14m | 114 min | UTC-5 |
| September equinox | 2026-09-22 | 6:38 AM | 6:47 PM | 12h 9m | 91 min | UTC-5 |
| December solstice | 2026-12-21 | 7:14 AM | 4:22 PM | 9h 8m | 68 min | UTC-6 |
In Chicago, one daytime choghadiya or Rahu kaal ranges from 114 min to 91 min across these four dates.
Upcoming Hindu festivals in Chicago
The festival tithi in Chicago local time, and the sky time that decides the ritual on the India date. Open a festival for the full guide.
| Festival | Tithi begins | Tithi ends | Key time on the India date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharad Navratri 2026 | Sat 10 Oct, 10:50 AM | Sun 11 Oct, 11:02 AM | Sunrise 6:58 AM |
| Dussehra 2026 | Tue 20 Oct, 2:21 AM | Wed 21 Oct, 3:42 AM | Sunset 6:01 PM |
| Karwa Chauth 2026 | Wed 28 Oct, 2:37 PM | Thu 29 Oct, 11:41 AM | Moonrise 8:23 PM |
| Ahoi Ashtami 2026 | Sun 1 Nov, 3:22 AM | Mon 2 Nov, 1:41 AM | Sunset 4:44 PM |
| Dhanteras 2026 | Thu 5 Nov, 11:01 PM | Fri 6 Nov, 11:18 PM | Sunset 4:38 PM |
| Diwali 2026 | Sat 7 Nov, 11:58 PM | Mon 9 Nov, 1:02 AM | Sunset 4:36 PM |
| Govardhan Puja 2026 | Mon 9 Nov, 1:02 AM | Tue 10 Nov, 2:31 AM | Sunrise 6:34 AM |
| Bhai Dooj 2026 | Tue 10 Nov, 2:31 AM | Wed 11 Nov, 4:24 AM | Sunrise 6:35 AM |
| Chhath Puja 2026 | Sat 14 Nov, 11:55 AM | Sun 15 Nov, 2:32 PM | Sunset 4:29 PM |
| Holi 2027 | Sun 21 Mar, 7:52 AM | Mon 22 Mar, 5:44 AM | Sunset 7:04 PM |
| Teej 2027 | Tue 3 Aug, 9:50 PM | Wed 4 Aug, 6:39 PM | Sunrise 5:47 AM |
What the panchang tells you
The five limbs
Panchang means five limbs: vaar (weekday), tithi (lunar day), nakshatra (the Moon's star), yoga (a Sun Moon combination) and karana (half a tithi). Families read them at local sunrise to plan puja, fasts and functions.
Choghadiya
The day and the night are each split into eight equal slots named Amrit, Shubh, Labh, Char, Udveg, Kaal and Rog. Amrit, Shubh and Labh are favoured, Char suits travel, and the other three are avoided for new beginnings. Gujarati and Rajasthani families use choghadiya the most, for shop openings, travel and buying gold.
Rahu kaal
One eighth of the daytime, at a fixed position for each weekday, is Rahu kaal. South Indian families especially avoid starting anything new in it. Because it is a fraction of the local day, it changes length with the season, which is why Chicago needs its own timing.
- Pick your date above.
- Check Rahu kaal and avoid it for a new start.
- Choose a good choghadiya or Abhijit for the important task.
- For weddings and griha pravesh, confirm with your purohit.
Panchang Chicago: questions
What is Rahu kaal today in Chicago?
On Friday, 2 October 2026, Rahu kaal in Chicago is from 11:11 AM to 12:39 PM local time.
What is today's choghadiya in Chicago?
The good day slots today are Char 6:48 AM to 8:16 AM, Labh 8:16 AM to 9:44 AM, Amrit 9:44 AM to 11:11 AM, Shubh 12:39 PM to 2:07 PM, Char 5:02 PM to 6:30 PM.
What tithi is it today in Chicago?
Saptami · Krishna Paksha at sunrise in Chicago, ending Fri 2 Oct, 9:30 PM local time.
Can I use an Indian panchang in Chicago?
Not directly. Chicago is 10h 30m behind India today, and sunrise and sunset are different, so every slot must be recalculated for Chicago. This page does that.
Which time zone does this page use for Chicago?
Central Time (CST / CDT), UTC-5 on this date, with daylight saving applied automatically when it is in force.
When is Diwali 2026 in Chicago?
Amavasya runs from Sat 7 Nov, 11:58 PM to Mon 9 Nov, 1:02 AM in Chicago. Lakshmi puja is done after sunset while Amavasya runs.
Is Abhijit muhurat good in Chicago?
Abhijit muhurat, the midday window, is 12:16 PM to 1:02 PM today in Chicago. It is traditionally treated as a good slot, except on Wednesdays in many traditions.
How is this panchang calculated?
From the real positions of the Sun and Moon (Lahiri ayanamsha) and Chicago's coordinates, 41.88, -87.63. Nothing is copied from an Indian city.