The day begins when the tiles on the roof of a house can be counted, or when the hair on the back of a man's hand can be discerned against the sky.

A copper vessel with a small hole in the bottom is so constructed that, when put on the surface of water in a tub, it fills sixty times a day; and each time it fills and sinks, the gharī is struck.

The ghari, which is a flat metal plate or gong, is struck regularly in progressive numbers from morning to noon; one, two, three, &c. If the day is twenty-four gharis in length, the striking of the ghari will give the number of gharis from morning till noon; after that, the first ghari struck will indicate the number of gharis which remain of the day till sunset. The same holds good for the night. That is to say from sunset to midnight the gharīs are struck, one, two, three, &c., and from midnight the striking indicates the number of gharis still to elapse before dawn.