The raag for every hour

In Hindustani classical music each raag belongs to a time of day. Samayraag divides the day into eight prahars measured from your own sunrise and sunset, and plays the raag that belongs to the one you are in. Times shown are for a day with sunrise and sunset at six. See the full raag time chart.

1. Dawn · 6 am – 9 amRaag Bhairav भैरवThe first light, still arriving. A flat second and flat sixth pulled hard toward the tonic.
2. Morning · 9 am – 12 noonRaag Ahir Bhairav अहीर भैरवBhairav's lower half with the top of the scale opened. Less severe, morning already underway.
3. Midday · 12 noon – 3 pmRaag Brindavani Sarang बृंदावनी सारंगFive notes, no shadow work. A flat, overhead raag for the flattest hour of the day.
4. Afternoon · 3 pm – 6 pmRaag Multani मुलतानीA sharpened fourth straining upward. The day leaning toward its end.
5. Dusk · 6 pm – 9 pmRaag Yaman यमनA sharpened fourth, never the natural one. A door opening rather than a threshold.
6. Evening · 9 pm – midnightRaag Kedar केदारBoth fourths, natural and sharp, kept close. A room gone quiet but not yet asleep.
7. Midnight · midnight – 3 amRaag Darbari Kanada दरबारी कानड़ाA flat third and sixth, held and made to waver. The hour when nothing else is happening.
8. Pre-dawn · 3 am – 6 amRaag Lalit ललितBoth fourths, no fifth at all. A phrase held in the air, refusing to land before the sun does.