Time of day

Evening

A popular evening period with expansive and luminous melodic spaces.

Time theory in Hindustani music

The tradition of associating raags with specific times of day is an important part of Hindustani music discourse. The idea is that each part of the day has a distinct quality that certain raags resonate with. Performance-time conventions are observed to varying degrees, and opinions about strict adherence differ across performers and pedagogical traditions.

Browsing by time helps learners see how the classical day cycle organizes a large raag landscape into more manageable zones, even if modern listening often happens outside the prescribed window.

Evening raags

Bhoopali

भूपाली

A bright pentatonic evening raag using Sa Re Ga Pa Dha, known for clarity and approachability.

Thaat: Kalyan

Time: Evening

DevotionalJoyfulPeaceful

Gorakh Kalyan

गोरख कल्याण

A gentle evening raag from the Kalyan thaat with tivra Ma and a serene, contemplative quality.

Thaat: Kalyan

Time: Evening

DevotionalMeditativePeaceful

Hamsadhwani

हंसध्वनि

A bright pentatonic raag often used for energetic openings and devotional freshness.

Thaat: Bilawal

Time: Evening

DevotionalJoyfulMajestic

Hemant

हेमंत

A serene evening raag associated with the early winter season, combining warmth and gentle melancholy.

Thaat: Asavari

Time: Evening

MeditativeMelancholicPeaceful

Kamod

कामोद

A joyful evening raag with a characteristic Sa-Re-Pa leap and bright, celebratory character.

Thaat: Kalyan

Time: Evening

DevotionalJoyfulMajestic

Kedar

केदार

A devotional evening raag using both forms of Ma, associated with prayer and spiritual depth.

Thaat: Kalyan

Time: Evening

DevotionalMeditativePeaceful

Marwa

मारवा

A profoundly serious evening raag without Pa, where Sa itself becomes unstable and elusive.

Thaat: Marwa

Time: Evening

MeditativeMelancholicSerious

Puriya

पूरिया

A serious evening raag without Pa, built on komal Re and tivra Ma with deep melodic gravity.

Thaat: Marwa

Time: Evening

MajesticMeditativeSerious

Puriya Dhanashree

पूरिया धनाश्री

A majestic evening raag combining the gravity of Puriya with the presence of Pa.

Thaat: Poorvi

Time: Evening

DevotionalMajesticSerious

Saraswati

सरस्वती

A rare and devotional evening raag named after the goddess of learning, with a serene and luminous quality.

Thaat: Kalyan

Time: Evening

DevotionalMajesticPeaceful

Shankara

शंकरा

A devotional and lively evening raag with a pentatonic structure emphasizing Pa.

Thaat: Bilawal

Time: Evening

DevotionalJoyfulMajestic

Shree

श्री

A majestic evening raag with komal Re, tivra Ma, and komal Dha, conveying regal grandeur.

Thaat: Poorvi

Time: Evening

DevotionalMajesticSerious

Shuddh Kalyan

शुद्ध कल्याण

A serene evening raag differing from Bilawal only by its tivra Ma, creating a gentle luminosity.

Thaat: Kalyan

Time: Evening

JoyfulMeditativePeaceful

Tilak Kamod

तिलक कामोद

A sweet evening raag from the Kalyan thaat, closely related to Kamod with a gentle, ornamental quality.

Thaat: Kalyan

Time: Evening

JoyfulPeacefulRomantic

Tilang

तिलंग

A sweet evening raag from the Khamaj thaat with komal Ni and a lyrical, accessible character.

Thaat: Khamaj

Time: Evening

JoyfulPeacefulRomantic

Yaman

यमन

A foundational evening raag known for luminous breadth and the use of tivra Ma.

Thaat: Kalyan

Time: Evening

JoyfulMajesticPeaceful

Yaman Kalyan

यमन कल्याण

An evening raag blending Yaman and Kalyan elements, using both forms of Ma for distinctive color.

Thaat: Kalyan

Time: Evening

JoyfulPeacefulRomantic