Durga

Durga strips the Bilawal scale down to five notes, dropping Ga and Ni entirely and keeping only Sa, Re, Ma, Pa, and Dha — all shuddha, with the same shape ascending and descending. That simplicity makes it a popular raga for beginners to improvise in, in a similar spirit to Bhupali, though the two aren't interchangeable: Bhupali (Kalyan thaat) keeps Re and Dha but drops Ma and Ni, while Durga does close to the opposite, keeping Ma and dropping Ga. A phrase built around the lower octave — Sa, Re, Dha, Sa — is often cited as one of Durga's most identifying gestures, and Pa is handled carefully, avoided as a resting note in descent so the raga doesn't drift toward the sound of Malhar-family ragas. Traditionally performed late in the evening into the second quarter of the night.