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 (flat) and Shuddha (full) Nishad, and all other notes are Shuddha (full). 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 (which gravitates more towards Khamaj thaat and maybe a little into the Bilaval Thaat) 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 (Semi-classical music). But this doesn't include the Raga Vistar (aalap) or Khyal Gayaki (Classical music) 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 (komal) m P D N S

Avaroha

S N D P m G (komal) S

Pakad / Chalan

R g R S D n P D N S G (komal) M R g R

Vadi

Ga

Samavadi

Ni

Songs in Raga Gara with Video Links
(The references of all songs that are given below are - )

Aise To Na Dekho Film - Teen Deviyan Year - 1965 Raga - Gara Tala - Dadra Music Director - S. D. Burman Singer - Mohd. Rafi Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaginwwacJI

Diwana Kahe Ke Aaj Mujhe Phir Pukariye Film - Mulzim Year -1963 Raga - Gara Tala - Dadra Music Director - Ravi Singer - Mohd. Rafi Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDuQcRX6hXg

Hamsafar Saath Apna Chhod Chale Film - Aakhri Daao Year -1958 Raga - Gara Tala - Dadra Music Director - Madan Mohan Singer - Mohd. Rafi, Asha Bhosle Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIZaLYIfPXg

Tere Mere Sapne Ab Ek Rang Hain Film - Guide Year - 1965 Raga - Gara Tala - Dadra Music Director - S.D. Burman Singer - Mohd. Rafi Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngch5NKgPh8

Jivan Mein Piya Tera Sath Rahe Film - Gunj Uthi Shehnai Year - 1959 Raga - Gara Tala - Kaherava Music Director - Vasant Desai Singers - Lata Mangeshkar, Mohd. Rafi Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10c6TeWZmVE

Kabhi Khud Pe Kabhi Haalaath Pe Ronaa Aayaa Film - Hum Dono Year - 1961 Raga - Gara Tala - Dadra Music Director - Jaidev Singer - Mohd. Rafi Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzpHlGxDzqE

Mohe Panghat Pe Nandalal Ched Gayo Re Film - Mughal-e-Azam Year - 1960 Raga - Gara Tala - Dadra Music Director - Naushad Singer - Lata Mangeshkar Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4y8tXUlJjA

Unnai Kaanadhu naan Language - Tamil Movie   - Vishwaroopam Raga    - Gara Year    - 2013 Composer - Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy  Vocal  - Shankar Mahadevan & Kamal Haasan

Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram Raga - Gara Composer - Tulsidas or Ramdas Tuned by - Vishnu Digambar Paluskar Popularised by Mahatma Gandhi

Chanthu Thottile Film    - Banaras Language - Malayalam  Year    - 2009 Raga    - Mishra Gara with touches of Malhar Composer - M Jayachandran Lyricist - Gireesh Puttenchery Vocal   - Shreya Ghoshal