Vadi, in both Hindustani classical music and Carnatic music, is the dominant swara (musical note) of a given raga (musical scale). "Vadi is the most sonant or most important note of a Raga."[1] It does not refer to the most played note but it rather refers to a note of special significance. It is usually the swara which is repeated the greatest number of times, and often it is the swara on which the singer can pause for a significant time.
Vadi swara, along with the Samvadi swara of a raga, usually brings out the uniqueness of the raga and its bhava (mood) and rasa (emotion).