{{Short description|Musical phrase in Hindustani music}} {{More citations needed|date=April 2026}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}} In Hindustani music, a '''''pakad''''' (Hindi: पकड़) is an accepted musical phrase or a set of phrases to encapsulate the essence of a particular raga.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Raag Yaman in Hindustani Classical Music: Structure, Swaras & Significance |url=https://www.hclconcerts.com/blogs/raag-yaman-hindustani-classical-music/ |access-date=2026-04-23 |website=HCL Concerts |language=en-US}}</ref>
The pakad contains the melodic theme of the raga. In many cases, the ragas contain the same swaras (notes), then the pakad also contains information about gayaki or chalan. The pakad is formed from short convolutions of the arohana and avarohana. The pakad for a particular raga need not be unique, but its sole purpose is to clarify what raga it is.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-29 |title=Raag Yaman: A Complete Beginner's Guide to This Fundamental Raga {{!}} SPARDHA |url=https://www.spardhaschoolofmusic.com/blog/raag-yaman-a-complete-beginners-guide-to-this-fundamental-raga |access-date=2026-04-23 |website=www.spardhaschoolofmusic.com |language=en}}</ref>
For example, in a pakad for raga Yaman, a prominent raga from Hindustani music:<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-11 |title=Raag Yaman Kalyan - Indian Raag |url=https://music.indianraag.com/raag-yaman-kalyan/ |access-date=2026-04-23 |language=en-US}}</ref>
:Ni* Re Ga Ma# Pa, Ma# Ga Re Sa.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chowdhury |first=Kamalika Roy |date=2026-03-11 |title=Role of Raag Yaman in Hindustani Music: A Beginner's Guide |url=https://artiumacademy.com/blogs/raag-yaman-in-hindustani-music/ |access-date=2026-04-23 |website=Artium Academy |language=en-US}}</ref> Laya is an important aspect of a Pakad. Lay helps us to place emphasis on specific notes by giving them longer playing time, also to space notes apart. Without spacing, a Raag may fail to show its true characteristics. So Pakad helps better understand a raag.
== References == <references /> Category:Hindustani music theory Category:Carnatic music Category:Hindustani music terminology {{India-music-stub}}