Bhadra Dates and Timings 2026

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• Swarga LokaBhadra in heaven: not harmful
• Patala LokaBhadra in the underworld: not harmful
• Prithvi LokaBhadra on earth: harmful, avoid auspicious work

A karana is half a tithi. Of the eleven karanas, Vishti is the one the tradition calls Bhadra and waits out. It falls on the same eight half-tithis in every lunar month: the second half of Shukla Chaturthi, the first half of Shukla Ashtami, the second half of Shukla Ekadashi, the first half of Purnima, the second half of Krishna Tritiya, the first half of Krishna Saptami, the second half of Krishna Dashami and the first half of Krishna Chaturdashi.

Where Bhadra resides, its vasa, is decided by the Moon’s rashi at the moment the karana begins. With the Moon in Mesha, Vrishabha, Mithuna or Vrischika it is in Swarga Loka; in Kanya, Tula, Dhanu or Makara it is in Patala Loka; in Karka, Simha, Kumbha or Meena it is on Prithvi Loka. By the Muhurta Chintamani rule only Bhadra on earth is harmful, and auspicious work may go ahead in the other two.

Bhadra matters most on two festivals. Raksha Bandhan falls on Shravana Purnima, and the first half of Purnima is Bhadra, so the rakhi is tied only after it ends. Holika Dahan on Phalguna Purnima follows the same rule.

1. Tying the rakhi on Raksha Bandhan, until Bhadra has ended
2. Lighting the Holika pyre
3. Rites such as a wedding, a mundan or a griha pravesh
4. Starting a journey or a new venture
5. All of this applies to Bhadra on Prithvi Loka only

Does every Bhadra have to be waited out?

No. By the classical rule only Bhadra residing on earth is barred. With the Moon in Mesha, Vrishabha, Mithuna, Vrischika, Kanya, Tula, Dhanu or Makara, Bhadra is in heaven or in the underworld and carries no dosha. Every window on this page names its vasa.

How long does Bhadra last on Raksha Bandhan?

The first half of Shravana Purnima is Vishti karana, so Bhadra runs for roughly twelve hours from the moment Purnima begins, and the rakhi is tied after it ends. The exact end for the year is in the table above, on the Shravana Purnima row.

Are these times right for my city?

Yes, for anywhere in India. A karana is set by the angle between the Moon and the Sun, which changes at one instant for the whole planet. The times here are Indian Standard Time.