Abstract

Gharana being an exclusive feature of Hindustani classical music deeply associated with professional performers or the Court-musicians. Ragas, the integral part of Indian classical music, have been a prevailing Cultural Tradition through the expression of various musical forms. Indian classical music started its journey through the evolution of Deshi and Marga Sangeet and met Hindustani classical music with some specific forms in northern India during medieval period. Hindustani Ragas are rendered basically through the forms of Dhrupad and Khayal for centuries with different social and cultural mind-set. The Gharana representatives, as it seems to be during Raga presentation, go through certain steps by applying some elements underlying the forms. Differences of steps of application make distinction from one Gharana to the other. This article inquiries about a thorough analysis of the Gharana system from its inception as well as exemplary exceptions into it. The rigidity and flexibility of Gharana in the modern perspectives of Institutional training system and the performance by the recognised practitioners has also to be evaluated.