Raga Guide

Ragas are the heart of Indian classical music. Each raga is a melodic framework with its own notes, characteristic phrases, mood and traditional time of day, and every performance is a new exploration of it. This guide introduces the ragas recorded on Aimrec albums and links to every performance, so you can hear how different masters, on sitar, santoor, bansuri, sarangi and voice, bring the same raga to life.

In the Hindustani (North Indian) tradition, ragas are linked to the hours of the day and to the seasons. Below they are grouped into morning, midday, evening and night ragas, followed by seasonal ragas and the light, folk-based ragas often heard at the end of a concert.

New to Indian classical music? Start with our introduction.

Morning ragas

Raga Ahir Bhairav

  • Celestial Ragas – The Eternal JourneyHidayat Khan, Rakesh Chaurasia, others · 2013Raga: Ahir Bhairav (Alap) · Raga: Ahir Bhairav (Gat in Rupak & Drut Teental)
  • The Magical VoicePandit Ajoy Chakraborty, Samar Saha · 2013Raga: Ahir Bhairav (Bandish in Vilambit Ektal) · Raga: Ahir Bhairav (Bandish in Teental)

Raga Bairagi Bhairav

Raga Bhairavi

Raga Bilaskhani Todi

  • Ragas of DawnPandit Manilal Nag, Samar Saha · 2020Raga: Bilaskhani Todi (Alap, Jor & Jhala) · Raga: Bilaskhani Todi (Gat in Vilambit Teental) · Raga: Bilaskhani Todi (Gat in Drut Teental)
  • Masters Of MusicUstad Rashid Khan, Anando Gopal Bandopadhyay · 1997Raga Bilaskhani Todi

Raga Lalit

  • Masters Of MusicUstad Rashid Khan, Anando Gopal Bandopadhyay · 1997Raga Lalit (Vilambit Ektal) · Raga Lalit (Teental & Tarana)

Raga Miyan ki Todi

  • Sitar DiariesHidayat Khan, Enayet Hossain · 2025Raga: Miyan Ki Todi (Alap, Gat in Vilambit & Drut Teental)

Midday ragas

Raga Shudh Sarang

  • Sitar DiariesHidayat Khan, Enayet Hossain · 2025Raga: Shudh Sarang (Alap, Gat in Teental)
  • Sacred BreathDeepak Ram, Enayet Hossain · 2025Raga: Shudh Sarang (Alap, Gat in Ektal)
  • Soulful DuetsHidayat Khan, Dilshad Khan, Enayet Hossain · 2015Raga: Shudh Sarang (Alap, Jor & Jhala) · Raga: Shudh Sarang (Gat in Vilambit Teental)

Raga Vrindavani Sarang

  • IncandescentDeepak Ram, Enayet Hossain · 2016Raga: Vrindavani Sarang (Gat in Teental)

Evening ragas

Raga Bhupali

  • Mystical BreathDeepak Ram, Enayet Hossain · 2022Raga: Bhupali (Alap, Gat in Jhaptal & Teental)

Raga Gawati

  • Six StringsHidayat Khan, Enayet Hossain · 2020Raga: Gawati (Alap, Gat in Drut Teental)
  • The Mystical SitarShakir Khan, Enayet Hossain · 2015Raga: Gawati (Alap) · Raga: Gawati (Gat in Teental)

Raga Hansadhwani

  • Sacred BreathDeepak Ram, Enayet Hossain · 2025Raga: Hansadhwani (Alap, Gat in Rupak & Teental)

Raga Kirwani

Raga Marwa

  • RenditionsHidayat Khan, Sandip Bhattacharjee, others · 2016Raga: Marwa (Bandish in Teental)
  • TraditionUstad Vilayat Khan, Hidayat Khan, Ustad Zakir Hussain · 2010Marwa (Alap) · Marwa (Gat in Teental)
  • Ragas on the SantoorPandit Bhajan Sopori, Enayet Hossain · 2010Raga Marwa (Alap, Jor, Jhala) · Raga Marwa (Gat in Jhaptal) · Raga Marwa (Gat in Teental)

Raga Puriya Kalyan

Raga Shyam Kalyan

  • Introduction to Indian Music Vol. 1Ustad Vilayat Khan, Hidayat Khan, others · 2016Raga: Shyam Kalyan (Gat in Vilambit Teental)
  • The Mystical SitarShakir Khan, Enayet Hossain · 2015Raga: Shyam Kalyan (Alap) · Raga: Shyam Kalyan (Gat in Teental)
  • SaazHidayat Khan, Enayet Hossain · 2011Raga Shyam Kalyan (Alap, Jor, Jhala) · Raga Shyam Kalyan (Gat in Vilambit Teental) · Raga Shyam Kalyan (Gat in Drut Teental)

Raga Yaman

  • ConfluenceDeepak Ram, Enayet Hossain · 2021Raga: Yaman (Alap, Gat in Rupak & Ektal)
  • Introduction to Indian Music Vol. 1Ustad Vilayat Khan, Hidayat Khan, others · 2016Raga: Yaman (Gat in Vilambit Teental) · Raga: Yaman (Gat in Drut Teental)
  • YamanHidayat Khan, Enayet Hossain · 2011Raga Yaman (Alap) · Raga Yaman (Gat in Vilambit Teental) · Raga Yaman (Gat in Drut Teental)
  • SunsetAnjan Chattopadhyay, Enayet Hossain · 2010Raga Yaman (Alap, Jor, Jhala) · Raga Yaman (Gat in Vilambit Teental and Drut Teental)
  • Live In ConcertRonu Majumdar, Enayet Hossain · 1997Raga: Yaman (Alap, Jor, Jhala) · Raga: Yaman (Gat in Rupak and Teental)

Raga Yaman Kalyan

  • Live in San FranciscoUstad Shujaat Khan, Enayet Hossain · 2020Raga Yaman Kalyan (Alap, Jor & Jhala) · Raga: Yaman Kalyan (Gat in Teental)

Night ragas

Raga Bageshree

  • Sacred BreathDeepak Ram, Enayet Hossain · 2025Raga: Bageshree (Alap, Gat in Rupak & Teental)
  • Introduction to Indian Music Vol. 1Ustad Vilayat Khan, Hidayat Khan, others · 2016Raga: Bageshree (Gat in Ektal)
  • The Majestic SitarShakir Khan, Enayet Hossain · 2012Raga Bageshree (Alap) · Raga Bageshree (Gat in Vilambit Teental) · Raga Bageshree (Gat in Drut Ektal) · Raga Bageshree (Gat in Drut Teental)

Raga Bihag

  • Sitar DiariesHidayat Khan, Enayet Hossain · 2025Raga: Bihag (Alap, Gat in Ektal)
  • Soulful Duet Volume 4: EuphoriaHidayat Khan, Utsav Lal, Enayet Hossain · 2020Raga: Bihag (Alap, Gat in Ektal) · Raga: Bihag (Gat in Teental)
  • Introduction to Indian Music Vol. 1Ustad Vilayat Khan, Hidayat Khan, others · 2016Raga: Bihag (Gat in Vilambit Teental)
  • Live in ConcertUstad Shahid Parvez Khan, Enayet Hossain · 2012Raga: Bihag (Alap, Jor, Jhala) · Raga: Bihag (Gat in Vilambit Teental) · Raga: Bihag (Gat in Drut Teental)

Raga Chandrakauns

Raga Desh

Raga Durga

Raga Hem Bihag

  • Strings Of The Soul Volume 1Barun Kumar Pal, Enayet Hossain · 2010Raga Hem Bihag (Alap, Jor, Jhala) · Raga Hem Bihag (Vilambit Teental and Drut Teental)

Raga Jhinjhoti

  • Six StringsHidayat Khan, Enayet Hossain · 2020Raga: Jhinjhoti (Alap, Gat in Vilambit Teental)
  • Introduction to Indian Music Vol. 1Ustad Vilayat Khan, Hidayat Khan, others · 2016Raga: Jhinjhoti (Alap, Jor & Jhala)
  • Soulful Duets: BlissHidayat Khan, Indradeep Ghosh, Enayet Hossain · 2015Raga: Jhinjhoti (Alap, Jor & Jhala) · Raga: Jhinjhoti (Gat in Vilambit Teental) · Raga: Jhinjhoti (Gat in Drut Teental)
  • Excellence On The SitarUstad Shujaat Khan, Enayet Hossain · 1991Raga Jhinjhoti (Alap, Jor, Jhala) · Raga Jhinjhoti (Vilambit Teental, Drut Teental)

Raga Jog

Raga Jogeshwari

  • Rare MomentsUstad Shahid Parvez Khan, Enayet Hossain · 2013Raga: Jogeshwari

Raga Jogkauns

  • Introduction to Indian Music Vol. 1Ustad Vilayat Khan, Hidayat Khan, others · 2016Raga: Jogkauns (Gat in Drut Teental)
  • Live in MumbaiUstad Vilayat Khan, Hidayat Khan, Ustad Zakir Hussain · 2010Raga: Jogkauns (Alap) · Raga: Jogkauns (Gat in Madhyalaya Teental) · Raga: Jogkauns (Gat in Drut Teental)

Raga Kalawati

  • Introduction to Indian Music Vol. 1Ustad Vilayat Khan, Hidayat Khan, others · 2016Raga: Kalawati (Gat in Drut Teental)
  • Sitar RecitalPandit Budhaditya Mukherjee, Enayet Hossain · 2006Raga: Kalawati (Alap, Jor & Jhala) · Raga: Kalawati (Gat in Vilambit Teental) · Raga: Kalawati (Gat in Drut Teental)

Raga Kamod

Raga Kedar

  • RenditionsHidayat Khan, Sandip Bhattacharjee, others · 2016Raga: Kedar (Bandish in Teental)

Raga Rageshree

  • Music Of The AncientsAjit Singh, Enayet Hossain · 2020Raga: Rageshree (Alap, Jor & Jhala) · Raga: Rageshree (Gat in Vilambit Teental) · Raga: Rageshree (Gat in Drut Teental)
  • The Mystical SitarShakir Khan, Enayet Hossain · 2015Raga: Rageshree (Alap) · Raga: Rageshree (Gat in Teental)
  • Shades of SantoorPandit Tarun Bhattacharya, Enayet Hossain · 2010Raga Rageshree - Alap, Jor, Jhala · Raga Rageshree - Gat in Vilambit Teental (Accompanied by Enayet Hossain on tabla) · Raga Rageshree - Gat in Drut Teental (Accompanied by Enayet Hossain on tabla)

Seasonal ragas

Raga Basant

  • Exquisite VoiceShubhra Guha, Samar Saha · 2013Raga: Basant (Bandish in Vilambit Teental) · Raga: Basant (Bandish in Ektal)

Raga Gaur Malhar

Light and folk-based ragas

Raga Bhatiyali

Raga Khammaj

  • Introduction to Indian Music Vol. 2Ustad Vilayat Khan, Ustad Zakir Hussain, others · 2019Thumri in Khammaj
  • TraditionUstad Vilayat Khan, Hidayat Khan, Ustad Zakir Hussain · 2010Ragamala in Khammaj, Bhatiyali Dhun
  • Garland of RagasMashkoor Ali Khan, Enayet Hossain · 2010Raga Khammaj (Bandish in Deepchandi)

Raga Maand

  • Introduction to Indian Music Vol. 2Ustad Vilayat Khan, Ustad Zakir Hussain, others · 2019Rajasthani Folk in Maand · Dhun in Mishra Maand
  • YamanHidayat Khan, Enayet Hossain · 2011Raga Maand (Rajasthani Folk)

Raga Mishra Bhairavi

  • Rare MomentsUstad Shahid Parvez Khan, Enayet Hossain · 2013Dhun in Mishra Bhairavi

Raga Mishra Kafi

Raga Mishra Khammaj

Raga Mishra Piloo

  • Introduction to Indian Music Vol. 2Ustad Vilayat Khan, Ustad Zakir Hussain, others · 2019Ragamala & Dhun in Mishra Piloo · Thumri in Mishra Piloo
  • IncandescentDeepak Ram, Enayet Hossain · 2016Raga: Mishra Piloo (Alap, Gat in Rupak & Teental)
  • The Magical VoicePandit Ajoy Chakraborty, Samar Saha · 2013Raga: Mishra Piloo
  • Live In ConcertRonu Majumdar, Enayet Hossain · 1997Ragamala based in Mishra Piloo

Raga Pahadi

Raga Piloo

Raga Sindhi Bhairavi

Other ragas

Raga Charukeshi

  • Soulful Duet Volume 3 – LegacyKamal Sabri, Hidayat Khan, Enayet Hossain · 2020Raga: Charukeshi (Alap, Jor, Jhala) · Raga: Charukeshi (Gat in Teental)
  • The Emotive SarangiZohaib Hassan, Enayet Hossain · 2020Raga: Charukeshi (Gat in Teental)
  • The Exotic SantoorPandit Tarun Bhattacharya, Ustad Sabir Khan · 2010Raga Charukeshi (Alap, Jor, Jhala) · Raga Charukeshi (Gat in Vilambit Teental) · Raga Charukeshi (Gat in Drut Teental)

Raga Dhani

  • Soulful DuetsHidayat Khan, Dilshad Khan, Enayet Hossain · 2015Raga: Dhani (Gat in Teental)

Raga Jansamohini

  • ConfluenceDeepak Ram, Enayet Hossain · 2021Raga: Jansamohini (Alap, Gat in Teental)
  • IncandescentDeepak Ram, Enayet Hossain · 2016Raga: Jansamohini (Gat in Matta Tal)

Raga Kaushikdhwani

  • Sacred BreathDeepak Ram, Enayet Hossain · 2025Raga: Kaushikdhwani (Alap, Gat in Teental)

Raga Mishra Maloo

  • Rare MomentsUstad Shahid Parvez Khan, Enayet Hossain · 2013Raga: Mishra Maloo

Raga Saraswati

  • The Emotive SarangiZohaib Hassan, Enayet Hossain · 2020Raga: Saraswati (Alap) · Raga: Saraswati (Gat in Ektal & Teental)

Raga Shivranjani

  • Sacred BreathDeepak Ram, Enayet Hossain · 2025Dhun in Shivranjani

Raga Shudh Maloo