Many Hindustani ragas belong to a time of day. Morning ragas are traditionally heard from before sunrise through the first hours of the day. These are traditional associations, not rules: musicians also perform ragas outside their hours, and you can listen whenever you like. Here are the morning ragas recorded on Aimrec albums, in roughly the order of the day.
Raga Lalit
Raga Lalit is traditionally linked with daybreak. It uses natural and sharp Ma side by side, and its mood can range from sadness to serene devotion.
- Masters Of MusicUstad Rashid Khan, Anando Gopal Bandopadhyay · 1997Raga Lalit (Vilambit Ektal) · Raga Lalit (Teental & Tarana)
Raga Ahir Bhairav
Raga Ahir Bhairav belongs to the family of Bhairav, the great raga of sunrise, and is traditionally performed in the early morning.
- 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 Bairagi Bhairav is another morning raga from the Bhairav family.
- Introduction to Indian Music Vol. 2Ustad Vilayat Khan, Ustad Zakir Hussain, others · 2019Thumri in Bairagi Bhairav
Raga Bhairavi
Raga Bhairavi is a morning raga, and by long tradition it also closes a concert, whatever the hour. Its character is devotional, tender and deeply emotional. Read more about Bhairavi.
- Introduction to Indian Music Vol. 2Ustad Vilayat Khan, Ustad Zakir Hussain, others · 2019Dhun in Bhairavi
- Introduction to Indian Music Vol. 1Ustad Vilayat Khan, Hidayat Khan, others · 2016Raga: Bhairavi (Gat in Teental)
Raga Miyan ki Todi
Raga Miyan ki Todi is one of the best-known morning ragas. Its name links it to Miyan Tansen, the celebrated musician of Emperor Akbar’s court.
- Sitar DiariesHidayat Khan, Enayet Hossain · 2025Raga: Miyan Ki Todi (Alap, Gat in Vilambit & Drut Teental)
Raga Bilaskhani Todi
By tradition, Raga Bilaskhani Todi was created by Bilas Khan, son of Tansen, in grief after his father’s death. It is a morning raga with a sorrowful mood.
- 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)