Desh (raga)

Raga Desh / Raga Des is a Hindustani classical music raga.^[1] It is commonly used in songs with a sentimental patriotic feel.^[2]

Technical description

The raga is of Audav-sampurna nature, i.e., in its arohana (ascent) only five notes are used, whereas the avarohana (descent) uses all the seven notes. Shuddha Ni is used in the arohana, while Komal Ni (represented as ni below) is used in avarohana. All other swaras are shuddha.

Arohana: Ni Sa Re, Ma Pa Ni,Sa.

Avarohana: Sa ni Dha, Pa Dha Ma Ga Re, Pa Ma Ga, Re Ga Ni Sa.

Pakad: Re, Ma Pa Ni, Sa Re ni Dha Pa,ma Ga Re

The vadi swara is Re

The ascent in this raga is a step by step pentatonic movement which goes like this: Sa, Re, Ma Pa, Ni Sa’.^[3]

Samaya (Time)

The raga is to be sung during the first quarter of the night (6PM to 9PM ). Raga desh is specifically sung during monsoons, therefore it is a monsoon raga (seasonal).

Further Information

Re is very prominent, quite a few times the singer rests on Re, making it a centre to the melody. The Meend from Ma to Re via Ga is one of the most vital features of the raga. The arohana via shuddha Ni, and the transition from Re to komal Ni in the avarohana form an important part of the melodies in this raga. Further, Desh is quite close to neighboring ragas like Tilak Kamod, and hence requires skilful rendition to separate itself.

Prominent Songs

Desh has been used in patriotic compositions. Vande Mataram, the national song of India, is the most well-known. The popular old Doordarshan video Baje Sargam, that featured many respected Indian classical singers, is also based on Desh.

Rabindrasangeet based on the raga

The polymath and Nobel laurete, Rabindranath Tagore, had very often used Hindustani Classical Music and Carnatic Classical Music in his songs (Rabindrasangeet). The songs based on this raga Des are listed below:

^[4]

References

External links

• Raaga details from Sounds of India
• Article on Des from South Asian Women's Forum
• Film songs in Desh
• About Desh on Chandrakantha