Pandit Pannalal Ghosh created a rare raga to honor the Diwali festival

Pandit Pannalal Ghosh, a pioneering flautist in the Hindustani classical music tradition, composed raag Deepavali around 1946.

Ghosh, a disciple of Ustad Allauddin Khan, is known for adapting the flute to play complex classical music. He created this specific raga to evoke the morning atmosphere and honor the deities associated with Diwali, a major Indian festival. While festivals like Holi have long influenced classical music, Diwali has historically had fewer representations in the tradition.

Raag Deepavali remains relatively rare because it is considered a trademark of the Maihar gharana, a lineage of musicians that includes famous figures like Ravi Shankar. Despite its rarity, some performers like Ashwini Bhide Deshpande and Pravin Godkhindi have included the raga in their repertoires. Other musicians have sought to preserve the spirit of the festival through different means. Pandit Chhannulal Mishra created his own Diwali bandish to capture the devotional mood of the holiday.

In cities like Mumbai and Pune, the community maintains the tradition of Diwali Pahat, dawn concerts that bring people together to hear morning ragas and abhangs.