By Shree Sauparnika V

When dark clouds gather and the first drops kiss the earth, nature begins its grand symphony. The wind whistles, thunder rumbles, and in homes, temples, and concert halls, a voice rises in song. In India, the monsoon is not only heard, seen or felt but also sung. 

Music and the Seasons 

In Indian classical music, a raga is more than just a melody. It is a living form with its own mood, time of day, and even season. Ancient texts like the Natya Shastra and the Sangita Ratnakara describe how music mirrors the rhythms of nature—sunrise and dusk, summer heat and winter chill, and the cool showers of Varsha Ritu. For centuries, musicians have turned to special ragas to welcome the rains, believing their music could not only celebrate the season, but even invite it. 

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Carnatic Voices of Rain 

In Carnatic music, no raga is more closely linked to rain than Amrithavarshini, which means ‘the shower of nectar’. Legend tells us that the great composer Muthuswami Dikshitar once sang his composition Anandamrutakarshini in this raga at Ettayapuram in Tamil Nadu during a drought, and rain followed soon after. With its bright pentatonic notes that sparkle like falling drops, Amrithavarshini continues to be sung during the monsoon, carrying with it the aura of this miracle.

Some traditions even connect ragas to deities. Just as Amrithavarshini evokes joy and abundance, ragas like Varunapriya are linked to Varuna, the Vedic god of rain and water (who is often compared to the Puranic Lord Vishnu). Music, myth, and nature flow into one another seamlessly. 

Hindustani Ragas of Monsoon 

In the Hindustani tradition too, the monsoon has inspired some of the most beloved ragas. Megh, with its deep, resonant notes, is said to echo the rumble of monsoon clouds. Miyan ki Malhar, attributed to Tansen, carries the drama of storms and sudden showers. Desh, soft and lyrical, feels like gentle rain on a quiet evening. These ragas are often performed during the rains, their swells and pauses mirroring the rhythm of downpours and the freshness of wet earth. 

Regional Flavours of Rain Songs 

Across India, the rains are welcomed in many different musical voices. In Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, women sing Kajris which are playful, yearning songs that capture the beauty of dark clouds and the ache of separation. In Bengal, the monsoon finds its voice in Rabindra Sangeet, where Tagore’s melodies weave rain with love and devotion. In Maharashtra, folk traditions like Ovis and Lavanis bring out the rhythm of village life in the wet season, while in Kerala, temple courtyards come alive with folksongs that celebrate Varsha Ritu as a time of renewal. From the banks of the Ganga to the backwaters of the South, the rains become a reason to sing, each region adding its own colour to the music of the monsoon. 

Echoes Across the World – Western Musical Parallels

While Indian ragas are closely tied to seasons and moods, Western classical music also paints nature in sound, though with different methods. Composers there often use ‘tone painting’, shaping rhythm, harmony, and orchestration to mirror the world outside. Antonio Vivaldi’s famous concerto The Four Seasons captures a summer storm with rapid violin strokes and dramatic chords, much like a monsoon cloudburst. Later, Impressionist composers such as Claude Debussy created musical ‘weather’ with flowing, unpredictable scales and rhythms that evoke rain, wind, or waves. Unlike ragas, which are bound to specific times and seasons, Western music tends to suggest nature through mood and metaphor. Yet, across cultures, music and rain have always danced together.

The Rain in Our Hearts 

What is it about a raga that makes the rains feel so near? Perhaps it is because the monsoon in India is more than just weather. It is relief after heat, joy after waiting, and hope for abundance. Indian classical music transforms this anticipation into melody, carrying the rhythm of falling rain and the fragrance of the earth within its notes.

Perhaps we are always waiting for the rain; a cathartic flow of emotions, a much-needed respite. Our ragas give voice to these feelings. They don’t just describe the rain. They become the rain.  

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