Gara (raga)

Gara is a Hindustani classical raga belonging to the Khamaj Thaat. This raga is similar to raga Jaijaiwanti. Both ragas i.e. raga Jaijaiwanti and raga Gara, have the same svaras. Gara is a rare raga. It is rendered in the late evening. The raga uses all the seven notes, six in the ascent and seven in the descent. Therefore, the Jati of the raga is Shaadav-Sampurna. While some say that seven svaras are played in the ascent and seven in the descent. Therefore, the Jati then becomes Sampurna-Sampurna. It uses both, the Komal and Shuddha Nishad, komal Ga, and all other notes are Shuddha. The derivative ragas out of this structure are grouped under the broad head of Khamaj Thaat. Gara belongs to a family of melodic entities, which were apparently derived from folk melodies, and entered art-music in association with the thumri genre. This family includes ragas like Kafi, Piloo, Jangula, Barwa, and Zilla, along with several others. This raga expresses the feeling of happiness and satisfaction of achievement, however it simultaneously conveys the sadness of losing. This raga is also a vivacious and romantic one.

Composition

Raga Jaijaiwanti bears the closest resemblance to Gara. However, some also believe that raga Gara is a combination of Khamaj, Piloo and Jhinjhoti. The raga belongs to the Khamaj parent scale, and is characterised by a notional scale-base at Pa of the lower octave, rather than the customary Sa. Sometimes it is considered to be in the Kafi parent scale too.
The types of raga Gara can be separated by one, the bright Gara from the more somber Gara which is the other type, which gets more into Kafi thaat and even Piloo-ang. Raga Gara can also be influenced by certain ragas like, raga Maand or even raga Bhinna Shadja, raga Pancham se Gara, raga Pahadi, raga Piloo, raga Sindura, raga Zilla and raga Manjh Khamaj in terms of playing Thumris or Bhajans. But this doesn't include the Raga Vistar or Khyal Gayaki because a ragas original composition and structure doesn't change in the raga vistar. This factor may change in the semi-classical forms of any raga.
Aarohana
S G m P D N S
Avaroha
S N D P m G S
Pakad / Chalan
R g R S D n P D N S G M R g R
Vadi
Ga
Samavadi
Ni

Gara (raga)

Composition

Songs in Raga Gara with Video Links