RÄga (Sanskrit, lit. "colour" or "mood"; or rÄgam in Carnatic music) refers to melodic modes used in Indian classical music. It is a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is made. In the Indian musical tradition, rÄgas are associated with different times of the day, or with seasons. Indian classical music is always set in a rÄga. Non-classical music such as popular Indian film songs or ghazals sometimes use rÄgas in their compositions.
RÄgini is an archaic term for the 'feminine' counterpart to a rÄga. .