Raag Basant

It is undoubtedly the most fun-filled and boisterous of Hindu festival. It's an occasion that brings in unadulterated joy and mirth, fun and play, music and dance, and, of course, lots of bright colours! However, nothing epitomises Holi, the festival of colour than Raag Basant writes Archisman Dinda

The word ‘Rāag’ (Devanagari: राग) (Sanskrit, "Colour" or "mood") means colour. It epitomises the tone and tenor thereby referring to the melodic modes used in Indian classical music. It is a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is made. In the Indian musical tradition, rāags are associated with different times of the day, or with seasons. Indian classical music is always set in a rāga. The word “Raag” first occurs in the Brihaddeshi of Matanga, where he describes it as "a combination of tones which, with beautiful illuminating graces, pleases the people in general". The term raga can be described as tonal framework for composition and improvisation whereby characterized ragas as separated by scale, line of ascent and descent, transilience, emphasized notes and register, and intonation and ornaments. Rāgini (Devanagari: रागिनी) is an archaic term for the 'feminine' counterpart to a rāag.

The word ‘Basant’ is a Sanskrit word meaning Spring. It’s during this season of the year that Raag Basant is performed at any time of the day or night. Otherwise, it is reserved for the night between 9 p.m. and midnight. The Ragmala gives Basant as a putra (son) of Hindol, also a spring raga. Today it belongs to the Purvi thata. The only variant noted in the Holy Book is Basant-Hindol. Basant is a very old raga dating from the 8th century. Guru Nanak, Guru Amar Das, Guru Ram Das, Guru Arjan and Guru Tegh Bahadur composed sabdas to this raga. Performed in slow tempo, this gentle melody depicts quiet joy. The descending scale is usually found at the beginning of a composition with the ascending form following later. According to Indian Schools of music this raga has very gentle mood and represents loneliness and quiet joy and is to be performed in a dignified slow tempo. The Raag Basant belongs to Purvi thaht.

There are many variations of this raga. It is believed that the Basant raga recorded in Guru Granth Sahib is in its original and true variation. According to a tradition this raga is sung in the Sikh Gurdwaras from the festival of Magi to the festival of Hola Mohalla. During this period the singing of raga Sarang is prohibited. The Sikh ragis start the singing of this raga on the first of the month of Mag, after saying their prayers and purifying the prasad. They sing five shabads of the raga and then sing the 'var' of Basant and declare that they have opened the raga Basant. On the day of Holla Mohalla they sing the shabad 'surah ki jaisi teri chaal..’ and end the singing of the raag.

The scale and notes of the Raag are as follows:

Arohi (ascending scale) - Sa Ga Ma Dha Ni Sa

Avrohi (descending scale) - Sa Ni Dha Pa Ma Ga Re Sa

The vadi (most popular) note is ' Sa ' and samvadi (second most popular) note is ' Ma '. This raga can be sung at any time, though some prefer it to be sung at late night time. The season of its recitation is spring (Basant).