राग दरबारी-कान्हडा का परिचय | Raag Darbari Kanhada Description in English
Introduction to Raag Darbari-Kanhra in English
Raag Darbari Overview – This raga is believed to have originated from the Asavari Thaat. The Vadi (most prominent note) of this raga is Rishabh (Re), and the Samvadi (second most prominent note) is Pancham (Pa). Some scholars categorize this raga as Sampurna–Shadav (complete in ascent and six notes in descent), while others describe it as a Vakra Sampurna raga due to its zigzag movement. The ideal time to perform or listen to Raag Darbari is midnight. It is considered to have a very serious and dignified nature. In the ascent (Aaroh), the note Gandhar (Ga) is used sparingly and delicately, while the combination of Nishad (Ni) and Pancham (Pa) creates a melodious and emotionally rich effect.
It is widely believed that the great musician Tansen created Raag Darbari Kanhra. The raga evokes a calm, grave, and majestic atmosphere. Special oscillations (andolans) are applied to the notes Gandhar (Ga) and Dhaivat (Dha). In the ascent, Ga is approached with a touch of Rishabh (Re), and Dha is rendered with a nuance of Pancham (Pa). Similarly, in the descent (Avaroh), Ga is touched with Madhyam (Ma), and Dha with a hint of Nishad (Ni).
In some descending phrases, Dha is deliberately omitted, for example: Sa’ (Ni₁) Dha₁ Ni₁ Pa. This raga is characterized by its heavy use of gamak (oscillations) and meend (glides), and its elaboration typically occurs in the lower and middle octaves. The following melodic patterns (swar sangatis) effectively represent the structure and essence of Raag Darbari Kanhra.