Pahadi  Raag Description

And now, Raag Pahadi that can get away with using just about any note in the octave but still retains a distinct flavor all its own. Pahadi is one of those ragas that is hard to define an ascent or descent for, so here is a simple sol-fa song to demonstrate a few typical note combinations. In this example I have only combined the nine most prominent notes used. The remaining notes are used only rarely and have to be done with the greatest care and expertise to retain the raga’s identity. Pahadi is an evening raga that combines both playful and pensive aspects. It is characterized by a very charming, folksy flavor.

Peace, power, pathos, poignancy: these words together constitute an apposite expression of the aesthetics of the raga Pahadi. The raga is like a lover, unruffled in union, serene in separation, powerful enough to achieve eternal union, but resigned to the painful parting ordained by destiny.

Pahadi, a Kashimiri folk melody in its origin, is a simple raga — one may think of it as a ‘dhoon’. On the other hand, however, proper and dignified treatment elevates it to the rightful, lofty and esteemed stature of an exquisite raga — beautiful, intense, elegant and delicate. Its aesthetic atmosphere is radically distinctive and without equal. It is not a major raga in the sense of Darbari, Yaman, Bihag etc.

Raga Pahadi is said to belong to Bilawal thaat. Superficially, Pahadi has the same notes as do Bhopali and Deshkar and Shuddha kalyan (Mohana Kalyani). Raga Pahadi is sung with Ma as Sa, (like Piloo). Having done that, it is sung chiefly in the lower and middle octaves, With Ma as its Sa, Dha now becomes Ga, which can be treated as the vadi. Stressing the lower Dha makes this raga beautiful. This raga is very popular in rendering thumris, ghazals and bhajans. It is sung at all times. Its Aroha and Avaroha are as follows:

Aroha: S R G P D S'

Avaroha: S' D P G R S.

This is, of course, oversimplification, because any of the twelve notes of the octave can be skillfully included to enhance Pahadi’s ethereal appeal.

Typical phrases in Pahadi:

[The notation with Ma as the Sa]

S, 'D 'P, 'G 'P 'D S.

S, 'D 'D 'P, 'D S R G, G R G S.

A visit to the raga database on this site will show how popular this raga is, with one of the largest number of movie songs using its notes as well as atmosphere.

I often come across Country music songs which exude distinctly of the Pahadi pathos.

Thaat	Bhairav
Vaadi/Samvaadi	/
Prahar	5 (6 pm - 9 pm)
Important Anuvaadi
Aaroha	'P-'D-S-R-G-P-D-S'
Bhaav	Shadj-Pancham
Avaroha	S'-N-D-P-m-G-R-s-'n-'d-'P-'d-S
Saptak-pradhaanata	Mandra-Madhya
Pakad	S-'D-'P-'D-'m-'G-'P-'D-S
Tanpura Tuning	m
Jaati	Audav-Sampoorn
Other Characteristics	Performance time is not strictly defined. Can be performed at any time of the day or night.
Similar Raagas
Popular Film Songs	1. Aa ja re, aa je re o mere dilbar aaja Film: Noori Singers: Nitin Mukesh Taala: Music Director: Khayyam Poet: 2. Aaj ki raat mere dil ki salaami le le Film: Ram Aur Shyam Singers: Mohammad Rafi Taala: Keharva Music Director: Poet: 3. Are ja re hat natkhat na chher mera ghoonghat Film: Navrang Singers: Taala: Dadra Music Director: C. Ramachandra Poet: Bharat Vyas 4. Chaahoonga main tujhe saanjh savere Film: Dosti Singers: Mohammad Rafi Taala: Keharva Music Director: Poet: 5. Chal ur ja re panchhi ke ab ye desh hua begaana Film: Bhabhi Singers: Mohammad Rafi Taala: Keharva Music Director: Poet: 6. Chaudahvin ka chaand ho, ya aaftaab ho Film: Chaudahvin Ka Chaand Singers: Mohammad Rafi Taala: Keharva Music Director: Ravi Poet: Shakeel Badayuni 7. Dil karada, o yaara dildaara mera dil karada Film: Aadmi Aur Insan Singers: Taala: Keharva Music Director: Poet: 8. Dil pukaare aa re aa re aa re Film: Jewel Thief Singers: Mohammad Rafi Lata Mangeshkar Taala: Keharva Music Director: S. D. Burman Poet: Majrooh Sultanpuri 9. Dil todne waale, tujhe dil dhoond raha hai Film: Singers: Taala: Keharva Music Director: Poet: 10. Din hain bahaar ke, tere mere ikaraar ke Film: Waqt Singers: Taala: Keharva Music Director: Poet: 11. Do dil dharak rahe hain aur aawaz ek hai Film: Singers: Taala: Music Director: Poet: 12. Do sitaaron ka zameen par hai milan aaj ki raat Film: Kohinoor Singers: Mohammad Rafi Lata Mangeshkar Taala: Dadra Music Director: Naushad Poet: Shakeel Badayuni 13. Isharon Isharon mein dil lene wale Film: Kashmir Ki Kali Singers: Mohammad Rafi Asha Bhosle Taala: Deepchandi Music Director: O. P. Nayyar Poet: S. H. Bihari 14. Jaane kya dhoondati raihati hain Film: Singers: Taala: Music Director: Poet: 15. Javaan hai mohabbat, hasin hai zamaana Film: Anmol Ghadi Singers: Noorjahan Taala: Keharva Music Director: Poet: 16. Jo waada kiya wo nibhaana parega Film: Taj Mahal Singers: Mohammad Rafi Lata Mangeshkar Taala: Keharva Music Director: Roshan Poet: Sahir Ludhiyanvi 17. Kaun aaya ki nigaahon mein chamak jaag uthi Film: Waqt Singers: Taala: Dadra Music Director: Poet: 18. Koi pyaar ki dekhe jaadugari Film: Kohinoor Singers: Taala: Music Director: Naushad Poet: 19. Kora kaagaz tha ye man mera Film: Aaradhana Singers: Kishore Kumar Taala: Dadra Music Director: S. D. Burman Poet: 20. Lag ja gale phir aisi haseen raat ho na ho Film: Wo Kaun Thi Singers: Lata Mangeshkar Taala: Dadra Music Director: Poet: 21. Meri aankhon mein bas gaya koi re Film: Barsat Singers: Lata Mangeshkar Taala: Dadra Music Director: Shankar Jaikishan Poet: 22. O door ke musaafir, ham ko bhi saath le le Film: Udan Khatola Singers: Mohammad Rafi Taala: Keharva Music Director: Poet: 23. O mora naadaan baalama na jaane dil ki baat Film: Ujala Singers: Lata Mangeshkar Taala: Dadra Music Director: Shankar Jaikishan Poet: Hasrat Jaipuri 24. Parbaton ke pedon par, shaam ka basera hai Film: Singers: Taala: Music Director: Poet: 25. Peetal ki mori gaagari, dilli se mol mangaayi re Film: Do Boond Paani Singers: Parveen Sultana Minu Purshottam Taala: Keharva Music Director: Jaidev Poet: Kaifi Azmi 26. Saawan ka mahina, pawan kare sor Film: Milan Singers: Mukesh Taala: Music Director: Poet: 27. Sakhi ri mera man ulajhe tan dole Film: Singers: Lata Mangeshkar Taala: Keharva Music Director: Poet: 28. Shaam dhale khidki tale tum seeti bajaana chhor do Film: Albela Singers: Taala: Khemta Music Director: C. Ramachandra Poet: 29. Suhaani raat dhal chuki, na jaane tum kab aayoge Film: Dulari Singers: Mohammad Rafi Taala: Keharva Music Director: Poet: 30. Sun ri sakhi mohe sajana bulaayen Film: Nagin Singers: Lata Mangeshkar Taala: Music Director: Hemant Kumar Poet: Rajinder Krishan 31. Tasveer banaata hoon, tasveer nahin banati Film: Baradari Singers: Taala: Keharva Music Director: Poet: 32. Tere mere honthon pe, meethe meethe geet mitava Film: Chaandani Singers: Lata Mangeshkar Babla Taala: Music Director: Shiv Hari Poet: Anand Bakshi 33. Tum apna ranj-o-gham, apni pashemani mujhe de do Film: Singers: Jagjeet Kaur Taala: Music Director: Poet: 34. Vrindaavan ka krishn kanhaiya Film: Miss Marry Singers: Mohammad Rafi Lata Mangeshkar Taala: Keharva Music Director: Hemant Kumar Poet: Rajinder Krishan 35. Wo dil kahan se laayoon, jis dil mein tu na ho Film: Singers: Taala: Keharva Music Director: Poet:
Non-Film Songs	1. Tere bharose he nadalaala (Bhajan) Singers: Mohammad Rafi Taala: Music Director: Khayyam Poet: 2. Baat karani mujhe mushkil kabhi aisi to na thi (Ghazal) Singers: Mehdi Hassan Taala: Keharva Music Director: Poet: Bahadur Shah Zafar 3. Paayo ji maine ram ratan dhan paayo (Bhajan) Singers: D. V. Paluskar Taala: Bhajan Music Director: Poet: Meerabai 4. aakh naal aakh khain de (Geet) Singers: Mehdi Hassan Taala: Keharva Music Director: Poet: 5. Dil mein ik lehar si uthi hai abhi (Ghazal) Singers: Ghulam Ali Taala: Keharva Music Director: Poet: 6. Ghanshyaam hriday ke aangan mein kab aayoge (Bhajan) Singers: C. H. Atma Taala: Keharva Music Director: Poet: