Question

Describe the salient features of Raga Bageshri.

Hint:

Bageshri → Late night → Komal Ga, Ni → Ma vadi → Soft romantic mood.

Answer 1

Raga Bageshri is a popular Hindustani raga sung in late night (2nd Prahar).
Its mood is romantic, soft, and slightly melancholic.
Its arohana (ascent) is: Ni Sa Ga Ma Dha Ni Sa, and avarohana (descent): Sa Ni Dha Ma Ga Re Sa.
It uses Komal Ni and Komal Ga, with other swaras shuddha.
Its vadi swara is Ma, and samvadi is Sa.
Bageshri’s pakad (signature phrase) is Ga Ma Dha Ni Dha Ma Ga.
It is usually performed in vilambit (slow tempo) and madhya laya compositions.
Instrumentalists and vocalists use Meend and Kan extensively to bring out its softness.