Good times for an undertaking

Vidyarambha (start of learning)

A child’s first letters, or the start of a course of study.

Between Sunday, 25 October 2026 and Saturday, 7 November 2026, 3 days in Johannesburg have a usable window.

1. Sunday, 25 October 2026no window

   No window survives: Bhadra (Vishti karana), which almanacs avoid for auspicious beginnings; the tithi, Shukla Purnima, is not on the list for this purpose.

2. Monday, 26 October 2026no window

   No window survives: the tithi, Krishna Pratipada, is not on the list for this purpose.

3. Tuesday, 27 October 2026no window

   No window survives: Tuesday is not used for this purpose.

4. Wednesday, 28 October 2026no window

   No window survives: the Moon is in Krittika, a nakshatra not on the list for this purpose; Yamaganda: the part of the daylight ruled by Yama; avoided for auspicious beginnings.

5. Thursday, 29 October 2026no window

   No window survives: a rikta (“empty”) tithi, Chaturthi, avoided for beginnings.

6. Friday, 30 October 2026has windows

   4 windows, 6 hr 32 min in all

   • 5:19 am – 6:57 am · 1 hr 37 min

     • Char choghadiya (“moving”), one of the four daytime periods the tables accept
     • Friday is on the list for Vidyarambha (start of learning)
     • the tithi is Krishna Panchami (the fifth day of the dark half), which is allowed
     • the Moon is in Ardra, a nakshatra on the list
     • it is clear of Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda, Gulika Kaal and Bhadra

   • 8:35 am – 10:13 am · 1 hr 37 min

     • Amrit choghadiya (“nectar”), one of the four daytime periods the tables accept
     • Friday is on the list for Vidyarambha (start of learning)
     • the tithi is Krishna Panchami (the fifth day of the dark half), which is allowed
     • the Moon is in Ardra, a nakshatra on the list
     • it is clear of Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda, Gulika Kaal and Bhadra

   • 11:51 am – 1:29 pm · 1 hr 37 min

     • Shubh choghadiya (“auspicious”), one of the four daytime periods the tables accept
     • Friday is on the list for Vidyarambha (start of learning)
     • the tithi is Krishna Panchami (the fifth day of the dark half), which is allowed
     • the Moon is in Ardra, a nakshatra on the list
     • it is clear of Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda, Gulika Kaal and Bhadra

   • 4:45 pm – 6:23 pm · 1 hr 37 min

     • Char choghadiya (“moving”), one of the four daytime periods the tables accept
     • Friday is on the list for Vidyarambha (start of learning)
     • the tithi is Krishna Shashthi (the sixth day of the dark half), which is allowed
     • the Moon is in Ardra, a nakshatra on the list
     • it is clear of Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda, Gulika Kaal and Bhadra
   Why the rest of the day was left out

   • 6:57 am – 8:35 am: Gulika Kaal: the part of the daylight ruled by Gulika, Shani’s son; what begins in it is said to repeat, so it is avoided for good beginnings
   • 10:13 am – 11:51 am: Rahu Kaal: the eighth part of the daylight ruled by Rahu; almanacs advise against beginning new work in it
   • 3:07 pm – 4:45 pm: Yamaganda: the part of the daylight ruled by Yama; avoided for auspicious beginnings

7. Saturday, 31 October 2026no window

   No window survives: Saturday is not used for this purpose.

8. Sunday, 1 November 2026no window

   No window survives: the tithi, Krishna Saptami, is not on the list for this purpose; the tithi, Krishna Ashtami, is not on the list for this purpose.

9. Monday, 2 November 2026no window

   No window survives: the Moon is in Ashlesha, a nakshatra not on the list for this purpose; a rikta (“empty”) tithi, Navami, avoided for beginnings.

10. Tuesday, 3 November 2026no window

    No window survives: Tuesday is not used for this purpose.

11. Wednesday, 4 November 2026no window

    No window survives: the Moon is in Purva Phalguni, a nakshatra not on the list for this purpose.

12. Thursday, 5 November 2026has windows

    3 windows, 4 hr 57 min in all

    • 10:12 am – 11:51 am · 1 hr 38 min

      • Char choghadiya (“moving”), one of the four daytime periods the tables accept
      • Thursday is on the list for Vidyarambha (start of learning)
      • the tithi is Krishna Dwadashi (the twelfth day of the dark half), which is allowed
      • the Moon is in Uttara Phalguni, a nakshatra on the list
      • it is clear of Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda, Gulika Kaal and Bhadra

    • 11:51 am – 1:30 pm · 1 hr 38 min

      • Labh choghadiya (“gain”), one of the four daytime periods the tables accept
      • Thursday is on the list for Vidyarambha (start of learning)
      • the tithi is Krishna Dwadashi (the twelfth day of the dark half), which is allowed
      • the Moon is in Uttara Phalguni, a nakshatra on the list
      • it is clear of Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda, Gulika Kaal and Bhadra

    • 4:48 pm – 6:27 pm · 1 hr 38 min

      • Shubh choghadiya (“auspicious”), one of the four daytime periods the tables accept
      • Thursday is on the list for Vidyarambha (start of learning)
      • the tithi is Krishna Dwadashi (the twelfth day of the dark half), which is allowed
      • the Moon is in Uttara Phalguni, a nakshatra on the list
      • it is clear of Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda, Gulika Kaal and Bhadra
    Why the rest of the day was left out

    • 5:15 am – 6:54 am: Yamaganda: the part of the daylight ruled by Yama; avoided for auspicious beginnings
    • 8:33 am – 10:12 am: Gulika Kaal: the part of the daylight ruled by Gulika, Shani’s son; what begins in it is said to repeat, so it is avoided for good beginnings
    • 1:30 pm – 3:09 pm: Rahu Kaal: the eighth part of the daylight ruled by Rahu; almanacs advise against beginning new work in it

13. Friday, 6 November 2026has windows

    1 window, 1 hr 39 min in all

    • 5:15 am – 6:54 am · 1 hr 39 min

      • Char choghadiya (“moving”), one of the four daytime periods the tables accept
      • Friday is on the list for Vidyarambha (start of learning)
      • the tithi is Krishna Dwadashi (the twelfth day of the dark half), which is allowed
      • the Moon is in Hasta, a nakshatra on the list
      • it is clear of Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda, Gulika Kaal and Bhadra
    Why the rest of the day was left out

    • 6:54 am – 8:33 am: Gulika Kaal: the part of the daylight ruled by Gulika, Shani’s son; what begins in it is said to repeat, so it is avoided for good beginnings
    • 7:01 am – 6:28 pm: the tithi, Krishna Trayodashi, is not on the list for this purpose
    • 10:12 am – 11:51 am: Rahu Kaal: the eighth part of the daylight ruled by Rahu; almanacs advise against beginning new work in it
    • 3:09 pm – 4:48 pm: Yamaganda: the part of the daylight ruled by Yama; avoided for auspicious beginnings

14. Saturday, 7 November 2026no window

    No window survives: Saturday is not used for this purpose.

More from the Panchang

• TodayToday’s five limbs, good and avoided times, and choghadiya.
• Month calendarEvery tithi, nakshatra and festival of the month.
• Festivals and vratsThe year’s festivals, vrats, Ekadashis and full moons.
• ChoghadiyaThe eight parts of day and night, and which one is running.
• Rahu KaalToday’s Rahu Kaal, Gulika and Yamaganda.
• PanchakPanchak in the coming months, and what the texts say about it.
• BhadraWhen Bhadra (Vishti karana) runs, and where it is said to reside.
• SankrantiThe twelve sankrantis of the year, with times and punya kaal.
• EclipsesThe year’s solar and lunar eclipses, contact times and sutak.
• GocharEach graha’s sign changes, retrograde stations and asta.
• Date converterThe Hindu date for any Gregorian date.
• Birthday tithiYour janma tithi and its dates in the coming years.
• Name syllablesName syllables for each nakshatra pada, from the avakahada chakra.