Basant is a raga that signifies the arrival of spring and the transition to a new season. It inspires the mind to let go of selfishness, akin to the process of spring-cleaning that clears away cobwebs and creates a fresh start. The raga invokes feelings of hope and anticipation for a new beginning and the start of a new cycle. However, these emotions are not solely tied to the physical change of the season but rather an encouragement to initiate an internal effort towards change.
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How to read the notation (S r R g G m M P d D n N)
Notation symbols
| Symbol | Meaning | Western equivalent |
| S | SA | C |
| r | Komal RE (flat Re) | D♭ (C#) |
| R | RE (natural Re) | D |
| g | Komal GA (flat Ga) | E♭ (D#) |
| G | GA (natural Ga) | E |
| m | MA (natural Ma) | F |
| M | Tivra MA (sharp Ma) | F# (G♭) |
| P | PA | G |
| d | Komal DHA (flat Dha) | A♭ (G#) |
| D | DHA (natural Dha) | A |
| n | Komal NI (flat Ni) | B♭ (A#) |
| N | NI (natural Ni) | B |
Octave indicators
| Symbol | Meaning | Example |
| ' before a note | The lower octave | 'S = lower SA |
| ' after a note | The upper octave | S' = upper SA |
Timing and pauses
| Symbol | Meaning | Example |
| - after a note | The note is held | S- = hold SA |
| , after a note | A pause before the next note | S , R = pause before RE |
More ragas in this prahar
See all 5 Triyama ragas →