Raga Kafi is a popular raga in the Hindustani classical music tradition. It is the parent scale of the Kafi Thaat, one of the ten basic thaats or parent scales in Hindustani music. Raga Kafi is known for its sweet, romantic, and devotional mood.
Characteristics of Raga Kafi:
Note that in Raga Kafi, the Ga (Gandhar) and Ni (Nishad) are komal (flat) notes, while the other notes are shuddha (natural).
Raga Kafi is known for its sweet and melodious character. It is a favorite among musicians and listeners alike for its romantic and devotional mood.
Characteristics of Raga Kafi:
- Thaat: Kafi belongs to the Kafi Thaat.
- Scale: The scale of Raga Kafi is as follows:
- Arohana (ascending scale): Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni Sa
- Avarohana (descending scale): Sa Ni Dha Pa Ma Ga Re Sa
Note that in Raga Kafi, the Ga (Gandhar) and Ni (Nishad) are komal (flat) notes, while the other notes are shuddha (natural).
- Time: Raga Kafi is typically performed during the late evening.
- Mood: The raga is known for evoking a mood of love, romance, and devotion. It is often associated with the sentiment of longing for the beloved. Raga Kafi is also commonly used in devotional music, particularly in the Holi festival songs that celebrate the love between Lord Krishna and Radha.
- Characteristic Phrases: Kafi has several characteristic melodic phrases that distinguish it from other ragas. The use of komal Ga and Ni, and the emphasis on the Ma (Madhyam) note are essential features of Kafi.
- Popular compositions: Raga Kafi has been used in numerous classical compositions, including khayals, thumris, bhajans, and instrumental pieces. It has also been used in film music and other genres of Indian music.
Raga Kafi is known for its sweet and melodious character. It is a favorite among musicians and listeners alike for its romantic and devotional mood.