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 A brief list of today’s popular Gharanas in Hindustani Classical Music: 

[Image] Pandit D V Paluskar

Gwalior Gharana: This is the oldest among all the Khayal Gayaki (vocal) styles. Lucid and simple rendition of a composition is the distinctive style of this Gharana.
Founders: Ustad Hassu Khan, Ustad Haddu Khan and Ustad Nathu Khan
Exponents: Pandit Bal Krishna BaIchal Karanjikar, Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar, Pandit Omkarnath Thakur, Veena Sahasrabuddhe and Malini Rajurkar
   


[Image] Ustad Faiyyaz Khan

Agra Gharana: The Agra Gharana places great importance on developing forcefulness and deepness in the voice making the notes sound powerful and resonant.
Founders: Ustad Haji Sujan Khan, Ustad Ghagghe Khuda Baksh
Exponents: Ustad Vilayat Hussain Khan, Ustad Faiyyaz Khan, Ustad Latafat Hussein Khan and Pandit Dinkar Kakini.

 


[Image] Pandit Bhimsen Joshi

Kirana Gharana: It derives its name from the birthplace of Abdul Karim Khan of Kirana near Kurukshetra. In the Kirana style of singing, the swara is used to create an emotional mood by means of elongation and use of tanas.
Founders: Ustad Abdul Karim Khan and Ustad Abdul Wahid Khan
Exponents: Hirabhai Barodekar, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Gangubai Hangal and Prabha Atre.

 


[Image] Kishori Amonkar
Jaipur Atrauli Gharana: The most distinctive feature of the Jaipur Gharana can be best described as its complex and melodic form which arises out of the involutedly and undulating phrases that comprise the piece.
Founders: Ustad Alladiya Khan
Exponents: Kesarbai Kerkar, Mogubai Kurdikar, Pandit Mallikarjun Mansur and Kishori Amonkar.

 
[Image] Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan
Rampur Sahaswan Gharana: The Rampur Sahaswan Gharana adds stress on the clarity of swara in the development and elaboration of a raga through a stepwise progression.
Founders: Ustad Inayat Khan
Exponents: Ustad Nissar Hussain Khan, Ustad Ghulam Mustafa Khan, Ustad Rashid Khan, Sulochana and Brihaspati.

 



[Image] Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan

Patiala Gharana: Patiala Gharana is regarded as an offshoot of the Delhi Gharana. It is characterized by the use of complex layakari with the abundant use of bols and bol-taans.
Founders: Ustad Fateh Ali Khan and Ustad Ali Baksh
Exponents: Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Pandit Ajoy Chakravarti, Ustad Raza Ali Khan and Parveen Sultana

 
[Image] Ustad Chand Khan

Delhi Gharana: The Delhi Gharana was represented by Tanras Khan and Shabbu Khan. The highlights of Delhi Gharana are its pleasing vistaar and exquisite compositions.
Founders: Ustad Mamman Khan
Exponents: Ustad Chand Khan, Ustad Nasir Ahmed Khan, Ustad Usman Khan, Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan and Pandit Krishna Bisht.

 

[Image] Ustad Amir Khan

Bhendi Bazaar Gharana: The most distinctive feature of the Bhendi Bazaar Gharana is the presentation of Khayal, which is open voice, using a-kar. Breath-control and singing of long passages in one breath is highly regarded in this Gharana.
Founders: Ustad Chajju Khan
Exponents: Ustad Amir Khan, Ustad Aman Ali Khan, Shashikala Koratkar and Anjanibai Malpekar.

 

[Image] Pandit Rajan Sajan Mishra
Benaras Gharana: The Benaras Gharana evolved as a result of great lilting style of Khayal singing known by Thumri singers of Benaras and Gaya.
Founders: Pandit Gopal Mishra
Exponents:  Girija Devi, Pandit Rajan Mishra and Pandit Sajan Mishra


[Image] Pandit Jasraj
Mewati Gharana: The Mewati Gharana gives importance to developing the mood of a raga through bhava pradhan. It also gives an equal importance to the meaning of the text.Founders: Ustad Ghagge Nazir KhanExponents: Pandit Moti Ram, Pandit Mani Ram, Pandit Jasraj and Sanjeev Abhyankar