muhurtas

Muhurta is a term from Sanskrit meaning an auspicious moment or a favorable time to begin an activity. In Hindu astrology and Indian calendrical traditions, a muhurta is a specific time window used to start ceremonies, important tasks, or ventures. A typical muhurta lasts about 48 minutes.

The 24-hour day is traditionally divided into 60 ghatis, each about 24 minutes; two ghatis make one muhurta, yielding roughly 30 muhurtas per day. Exact times are calculated in the Hindu calendar (Panchang), incorporating sunrise, the position of the moon (nakshatra), the lunar day (tithi), yoga, and planetary positions. Different muhurtas are regarded as auspicious for different kinds of undertakings, and calendars mark preferred windows for events such as weddings, housewarmings, travel, or starting a business.

Brahma Muhurta is a well-known special muhurta, occurring roughly 1 hour 30 minutes before sunrise. It is traditionally considered highly auspicious for spiritual practices, though it is distinct from the regular 48-minute muhurtas used for everyday beginnings.

In modern practice, people consult Panchang or astrology software to select an auspicious muhurta for a given activity, adjusting for local sunrise and time zone. The concept exists across Indian traditions and is commonly referenced in wedding announcements, construction schedules, and the opening of new ventures.