Time of day

Night

A broad night-time category often linked with introspective and weighty raags.

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.

Night raags

Bageswari Kanada

बागेश्वरी कानडा

A night raag combining elements of Bageshree and Kanada into a deep, compound melodic identity.

Thaat: Kafi

Time: Night

MeditativeMelancholicRomantic

Darbari Kanada

दरबारी कानडा

A deep night raag known for gravity, slow expansion, and weighty phrase treatment.

Thaat: Asavari

Time: Night

MajesticMelancholicSerious

Durga

दुर्गा

A pentatonic raag often heard as bright, devotional, and uncluttered in movement.

Thaat: Bilawal

Time: Night

DevotionalJoyfulPeaceful

Gaur Malhar

गौड़ मल्हार

A monsoon raag combining Gaud and Malhar elements, evoking the drama and beauty of the rainy season.

Thaat: Kafi

Time: Night

JoyfulMajesticRomantic

Hameer

हमीर

A majestic night raag from the Kalyan thaat using both forms of Ma with regal grandeur.

Thaat: Kalyan

Time: Night

JoyfulMajesticSerious

Miyan ki Malhar

मियाँ की मल्हार

A night raag of the Malhar family attributed to Tansen, evoking monsoon depth with both Ni variants.

Thaat: Kafi

Time: Night

MajesticMeditativeRomantic

Nand

नंद

A joyful night raag from the Kalyan thaat with tivra Ma and a celebratory, expansive character.

Thaat: Kalyan

Time: Night

DevotionalJoyfulMajestic

Ramdasi Malhar

रामदासी मल्हार

A monsoon raag attributed to Swami Ramdas, combining devotional gravity with rain imagery.

Thaat: Kafi

Time: Night

DevotionalMelancholicSerious

Surdasi Malhar

सूरदासी मल्हार

A monsoon raag attributed to the poet Surdas, combining Kafi and Malhar elements with devotional warmth.

Thaat: Kafi

Time: Night

DevotionalJoyfulRomantic