What Is Raga Desh in Hindustani Music?

Shuddha Ni and komal Ni in Desh

Desh uses shuddha Ni on the way up and komal Ni on the way down. With Sa on C, the aroha reads C, D, F, G, B and C. The avaroha reads C, B flat, A, G, F, E, D and C.

The aroha has five swaras and the avaroha has seven, so the jati (class) of Desh is audav-sampurna. Audav means five swaras, and sampurna means seven. The Bhatkhande texts allow Ga in some rising phrases as well. The strict audav aroha is the form most school syllabi teach.

The two forms of Ni are easy to confuse. A rising line such as M P N S' takes shuddha Ni. A falling line such as S' N_ D P takes komal Ni.

The pakad of Desh and the weight on Re

A common pakad (identifying phrase) of Desh is R R, M P, N_ D P, P D P M G R G S. It opens on a repeated Re and turns through komal Ni to Pa. It closes with the curve G R G S, which returns to Ga before Sa.

Re is the vadi in the Bhatkhande system, and phrases often begin or pause on it. Pa is the usual samvadi (second most important swara). Some singers treat Pa as the vadi, so an exam answer should follow the course textbook.

Desh is a night raga. Sources differ on the exact hour. Many give the second prahar (three-hour period) of the night, and others place it later.

Tilak Kamod and Sorath beside Desh

Tilak Kamod also belongs to Khamaj thaat. Its typical phrase comes to rest on mandra Ni (Ni in the lower octave), as in S R G S .N. Desh does not pause on mandra Ni in this way.

Sorath is even closer to Desh. It leaves Ga out of the descent and falls M R S. Desh keeps Ga in the descent, as in M G R, G S. The swara Ga is therefore the quickest test between the two.