Raags are not frozen museum pieces. New raags have been created throughout history, and old ones have slowly evolved. But when does a melody or experiment “qualify” as a raag?
How new raags emerge
New raags often come from:
- Combining elements of two existing raags (for example, Kalashree blending Kalawati and Bageshree).
- Altering one note in an existing raag and forming a new set of rules and pakads.
- Regional folk melodies slowly getting codified into a classical structure.
A new raag gains acceptance when:
- Multiple serious musicians perform it.
- It shows a stable, repeatable identity (consistent Aaroha/Avaroha, pakad).
- Listeners and students can reliably distinguish it from neighboring raags.
Evolution of existing raags
Over centuries, raags can:
- Lose certain phrases and gain others.
- Shift in emotional color (for example, becoming more romantic or more devotional).
- Adopt new bandishes with slightly different chalan.
Just as a language changes slowly but remains recognizable, raags also breathe and adapt while keeping their core identity.
Fusion and experiments
In modern times, artists sometimes create fusion raags or use raag frameworks in non-classical genres (jazz, film, fusion bands). These may or may not become “official raags”, but they show how flexible the system is.
For a learner, it’s useful to respect both the classical grammar and the creative spirit behind raag creation. The system is strict enough to keep things meaningful and open enough to allow innovation.