Raga Puriya Dhanashri

Raga Puriya Dhanashri is a khayal performance by Hindustani classical vocalist Ustad Rashid Khan. The recording appears as the opening track on his 2005 album Sangeet Sartaj. Released under the Saregama label, the album features traditional raga expositions in the khayal style, a vocal form central to North Indian classical music.

The track spans 22 minutes and 46 seconds, adhering to the alap-jor-jhala structure followed by a composed bandish in vilambit (slow) and drut (fast) tempos. Khan renders the raga in the Puriya thaat, characterized by its use of komal re (flattened second), shuddha ma (natural fourth), and komal dha (flattened sixth). Accompaniment details for this recording remain undocumented in available sources, though khayal performances typically include tabla and tanpura support.

Sangeet Sartaj marks one of Khan’s mid-career studio releases, showcasing his training under the Rampur-Sahaswan gharana. The album title translates to \"Crown of Music,\" reflecting his stature in the Hindustani tradition. No commercial charts or certification records for the release are publicly verified. The tracklist beyond Raga Puriya Dhanashri includes other ragas, though specific titles and durations require further sourcing.

Khan’s interpretation of Puriya Dhanashri aligns with the gharana’s emphasis on bol-baant (textual phrasing) and gamak (ornamentation). The raga’s historical associations include compositions by 19th-century musicians like Ustad Inayat Hussain Khan, though Khan’s version does not reference a specific ancestral bandish. Live performances of this raga by Khan often extend beyond 30 minutes, suggesting the studio recording represents an abridged rendition.

The album’s production credits are unattributed in accessible references. Saregama, the releasing label, specializes in Indian classical and devotional music, with a catalog dating to the early 20th century under its predecessor, HMV India. Physical formats for Sangeet Sartaj included CD and cassette, though digital availability varies by region. No liner notes or session documentation accompany the standard release.