History & Origins
Bahar is one of the most important seasonal ragas: its time association is with the spring (Vasanta) season rather than with a specific hour of the day. It belongs to the Kafi thaat and has characteristic vakra movements in both ascent and descent. It often appears paired with Bhairav or Darbari in the "Bhairav-Bahar" and similar jod compositions that were popular in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
The Notes of Raga Bahar
Raga Bahar is a Audava-Sampurna (vakra) raga, meaning it uses audava-sampurna notes. The ascending and descending movements of the raga are defined below. In Indian classical notation, lowercase letters indicate flattened (komal) notes, and t superscript indicates a sharpened (tivra) note.
The Characteristic Phrase (Pakad)
The pakad is the signature melodic gesture of a raga: the phrase that immediately identifies it to an experienced listener. For Raga Bahar, the pakad is:
Performance
Bahar has an immediately exuberant quality. Its vakra movement in descent (Sa Ni dha Ma Pa, Ga Ma Ga re Sa) has a characteristic "turn" that gives the raga a playful, swinging quality. The raga is traditionally performed during the spring months (February through April in north India) and its performance at that time carries an additional resonance, the music harmonising with the world outside.
Spiritual Significance
Bahar's primary rasa is the uncomplicated joy of renewal (shringara in its most life-affirming aspect, combined with a touch of veera (heroism, triumph). Spring in Indian tradition is associated with the festival of Holi and with the story of Vishnu as Narasimha) the god who triumphed over winter's darkness. Bahar carries this triumphant, abundant quality.
Notable Performers
- Pandit Kumar Gandharva
- Pandit Bhimsen Joshi
- Mallikarjun Mansur
- Ustad Rashid Khan
Famous Compositions
- Spring season compositions
- Jod ragas: Bhairav-Bahar, Darbari-Bahar
- Numerous khayals and thumris