बसंत मुखरि

Raag Basanta Mukhari is a complete scale with all 7 notes in both ascent and descent raga in Hindustani classical music belonging to the Purvi thaat. This raag embodies the Compassion/Pathos (करुण) rasa, creating an atmosphere of serious, contemplative emotion. It is traditionally performed during evening hours. The raag offers rich melodic possibilities through its characteristic phrases and ornamentations, making it a rewarding subject for both khayal and instrumental performance.

As part of the rich tapestry of Indian classical music, Raag Basanta Mukhari represents the deep connection between melodic structure and emotional expression that defines the Hindustani tradition.

Basanta Mukhari is a compound Hindustani raag that merges the spring imagery of Raag Basant with the plaintive, wistful character of the Mukhari scale. In Hindustani practice, Mukhari draws on the Carnatic raag of the same name, which uses a Bhairavi-type scale but with a characteristic noble gravity. The compound is assigned to the Purvi thaat family on account of its komal Re, shuddha and tivra Madhyam, and komal Dha. This is a relatively modern composition in the creative tradition of combining raags for new emotional palettes, and has been explored by some North Indian vocalists seeking to bridge the two classical systems. It is performed in the late evening hours and evokes a mood of tender melancholy tinged with the fragrance of spring.