Swaras (notes) in a raga evoke rasa (emotions) such as joy, devotion or longing. Specific combinations and ornamentations (gamakas) influence the emotional expression of a raga.
Class 6 Arts Kriti-I Chapter 8 Taal or Talam and Raga or Ragam in Indian Music NCERT solutions
Class 6 Visual Arts Kriti-I Taal or Talam and Raga or Ragam in Indian Music question answer
Each raga’s swaras and melodic movements create different rasa (moods/emotions) in Indian classical music.
For example:
• Raga Bhairav – Creates serious, devotional rasa.
• Raga Yaman – Evokes romantic and peaceful rasa.
• Raga Desh – Feels joyful and refreshing, often linked to rain.
The use of ornamentations (gamakas, meends, and oscillations) further enhances the emotional impact of the raga.