Kafi (raga)

Kafi

Thaat	Kafi
Type	Sampurna
Time of day	2nd Prahar of the Night (9 p.m. - 12 a.m.)
Arohana	S R g m P D n S'
Avarohana	S' n D P m g R S
Pakad	S R g m P D n S' S' n D P m g R S
Chalan	S R g m P D n S' S' n D P m g R S
Vadi	Pa
Samavadi	Re
Synonym	Bhimpalasi, Bageshri
Similar	Kharaharapriya in Carnatic music and Dorian mode in Western music

Kafi (IAST: Kāfi) is a raga in Hindustani classical music. It corresponds to Kharaharapriya in Carnatic music and Dorian mode in Western music

Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande classified most ragas into ten Thaats. Kafi Thaat is one of them. The raga Kafi is the principal raga of its Thaat. According to Bhatkhande, its name first appears in the Raga Tarangini of Lochana Pandit, who lived in the Mithila district around the 15th century CE.

Kafi has a direct lineage with the folk music of India. Folk music in Tappa, Hori, Dadra, Kirtan and Bhajans from different parts of India have been composed in this raga.

Many variations of Kafi exist. Contamination with vivadi swaras is common. This mixing has given rise to Mishra Kafi. Hence, a pure form of Kafi is seldom heard.