CAPF AC 2025 Q39: Art & Culture – Music
Which Hindustani classical Raag is sung as an invitation to rain?
- (a) Raag Yaman
- (b) Raag Bahar
- (c) Raag Malhar
- (d) Raag Bhairavi
Answer: (c) Raag Malhar
Explanation
Raag for the rains
How to think: Hindustani ragas are linked to times and seasons.
The raag of the monsoon, sung to call the rain, is Malhar.
| Raag | Associated with |
|---|---|
| Yaman | Evening (first quarter of night) |
| Bahar | Spring season |
| Malhar | Monsoon, rain; Miyan ki Malhar, Megh Malhar |
| Bhairavi | Morning, often ends a concert |
Tansen is said to have brought rain by singing Miyan ki Malhar, and Megh also belongs to the rain family.
Bank key corrected: the stored key was (d) Bhairavi; the right answer is (c) Malhar.
Answer: (c) Raag Malhar.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Yaman is an evening raag.
- (b) Incorrect. Bahar is a raag of the spring season.
- (c) CORRECT. Malhar is the raag of the rains.
- (d) Incorrect. Bhairavi is a morning raag, not a rain raag.
Key point
Malhar family: Miyan ki Malhar, Megh Malhar, Gaud Malhar, Ramdasi Malhar. Bahar: spring. Basant: spring. Deepak: fire. Bhairavi: morning, concluding raag.
Remember
Malhar = monsoon; Bahar = spring.
Common mistakes
- Choosing Bahar because 'baharon ka mausam' sounds like the season of showers.
- Mixing Megh and Malhar; both are rain ragas.
- Thinking the raag Bhairavi belongs to a season.
Exam tip
Educated guess: 'Malhar' sounds like 'megh malhar', and the clouds ('megh') are in the name. Only one option is a monsoon raag.
Sources
- Nitin Singhania, Indian Art and Culture, chapter on Music: Hindustani raagas and seasons
- Sangeet Natak Akademi, Hindustani music: raag and time theory