Choghadiya

Seven auspicious and inauspicious time periods dividing the day and night.

Choghadiya (from Sanskrit "Chatur Ghadi" — four ghatikas) divides each day from sunrise to sunset into eight equal periods, and the night from sunset to the next sunrise into eight more. Each period is named after one of seven qualities — Amrita (nectar), Shubha (auspicious), Labha (gain), Chara (movement), Udvega (anxiety), Kaala (time), and Roga (illness) — and is traditionally consulted before beginning any important task.