District of Raga

Directions Website

Presenting and preserving the South Asian performing arts by connecting artists and audiences. community. An open jam session followed the concert.

District of Raga (DoR) was launched in January 2017 with a vision of creating space for practitioners and lovers of Indian classical music to gather for musical dialogue within the Washington, D.C. The inspiration to create this platform came from the successful collective of musicians in NYC known as Brooklyn Raga Massive. Prior to the pandemic, DoR was held at Bossa Bistro & Lounge in Adams Morgan on the last Wednesday of every month. The event showcased a local or visiting featured artist, with a focus on presenting traditional Indian classical music as well as multi-cultural sounds intersecting with Raga-inspired music. Through our platform, District of Raga strives to have a deep and consistent impact on our community of artists and audiences. Since 2017, DoR has presented over 60 curated concerts, live streams, events, and educational workshops. DoR has been featured in the IlluminAsia Festival at Smithsonian’s Freer Sackler Gallery and in collaboration with The Kennedy Center Millennium Stage as a co-presenter. DoR is honored to be one of 22 individuals/organizations in DC selected to be in the inaugural class of The Kennedy Center’s Culture Caucus. District of Raga is volunteer-run, curated, and organized by co-founders and local musicians Nistha Raj & Avi Shah. District of Raga is committed to:

● Connecting artists to audiences
● Building community through collaboration with artists, audiences, and organizations
● Recognizing and presenting artistic excellence and extraordinary musicianship
● Including educational opportunities
● Being inclusive of all people and backgrounds
● Preserving the performing arts and culture of South Asia.

10/11/2026

🎟️ GIVEAWAY: WIN 2 TICKETS TO INDHA ROOM!

Want to see Rohith Jayaraman live on October 16? We’re giving away two tickets to one lucky winner and a guest!
Join us for an intimate evening of original music and storytelling, featuring songs from Rohith’s forthcoming album, Oru Murai.

HOW TO ENTER:
1. Follow & Rohith Jayaraman
2. Like this post
3. Tag the person you’d bring in the comments!
That’s it! One comment tagging a friend is your entry.

THE DETAILS: 📍 Willow Grove Cultural Commons at Sandy Spring Museum 📅 Friday, October 16 · 7:30 PM

Entries close Tuesday, October 13, at 11:59 PM ET. We’ll randomly select one winner on Wednesday, October 14, and contact them by DM.

The winner must respond by Thursday, October 15, at 10 AM ET to claim the tickets. If we don’t hear back by then, we’ll select another winner.

Good luck!

No purchase necessary. Open to individuals 18 or older who can attend the event in person. This giveaway is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram. By entering, participants release Instagram from responsibility for this giveaway.

09/15/2026

JUST ANNOUNCED: Experience the mesmerizing performances of trailblazer L. Shenkar, string masters Derek Gripper + Alam Khan, and virtuoso Varijashree Venugopal when District of Raga returns to The Barns! Tickets go on sale Fri, Sep 18 at 10 AM.

09/09/2026

You asked for it, and we listened! The Saami Brothers are FINALLY bringing their nearly 800-year-old Qawwali tradition to Washington, DC!

Join us for an unforgettable evening of Qawwali infused with a classical spirit, presented in the visually stunning and acoustically exceptional Church of the Epiphany in the heart of downtown DC.

Grab an Early Bird ticket by September 14 before prices go up!

https://app.tickethive.com/e/the-saami-brothers-qawwali-in-d-c?utm_source=affiliate&utm_name=CCV&utm_campaign=CCV&utm_id=6a7dad84d08c4e52b08722680a1e633a

Saami Brothers Qawwali LIVE in DC
Thurs. Nov 19th
7 PM show | 6:30 PM doors
Church of the Epiphany
1317 G St NW, Washington, DC 20005
Just steps from Metro Center

Presented by District of Raga and the Center for Cultural Vibrancy, in partnership with the Reed Society for Sacred Arts.

09/01/2026

One of the things I love most about being a presenter and curator is getting to bring experiences to our community that you might not encounter in a traditional concert setting.

This one is particularly special to me, not only because Zeshan is a good friend, but because Songs That Know You is exactly the kind of experience I love presenting: thoughtful, playful, deeply musical, and rooted in the ways music becomes part of our lives.

Zeshan will take us on a journey to listen, analyze, laugh, and unpack the music and sounds that become part of our cultural memory and, of course, to hear his incredible voice. It’s part conversation, part listening session, part performance — and hopefully the kind of evening that makes you hear familiar music in a new way.

And we are doing it in one of my favorite settings: Willow Grove Cultural Commons at Sandy Spring Museum, an intimate space that makes this kind of experience feel less like a concert and more like being invited into a room with the artist. ❤️

I’m really happy to be bringing this one to the community on September 26.

Come hang with us, nerd out about music, and experience Songs That Know You.

September 26 | Willow Grove Cultural Commons at Sandy Spring Museum
 🎟️ Tickets → link in bio

See you there!
— Nistha

08/20/2026

So excited to bring Zeshan B’s Songs That Know You to the DC area this October! 🎶

Here’s a little preview of what’s in store.

Check our website for details! Hope to see you there for this unique experience!

08/03/2026

Join us for an evening of musical exploration rooted in the rich tradition of Hindustani classical music, featuring acclaimed sitarist Snehesh Nag and tabla virtuoso Anirudh Alva Changkakoti. Together, these exceptional musicians blend the depth of Indian classical tradition with contemporary influences, creating an immersive musical dialogue shaped by improvisation, intricate rhythms, soaring melodies, and unexpected sonic discoveries.

📅 Thursday, August 20
🕢 7:30 PM
📍 Willow Grove Cultural Commons at Sandy Spring Museum

🎟️ $35 ($28 for museum members)

Seating Note: This performance will be presented in the traditional baithak style with floor seating. A limited number of chairs will be available for those who need them. If you’re planning to sit on the floor, feel free to bring a cushion or floor pillow to make yourself comfortable.

Seating is limited to 65 guests, so we encourage purchasing tickets in advance.

🎟️ Ticket link in bio.

Tabla LiveMusic SandySpringMuseum DMVArts SouthAsianArts Baithak MarylandEvents

07/29/2026

Tradition. Innovation. Virtuosity.

Mohini Dey brings the rhythmic spirit of Indian classical music into a bold contemporary sound all her own.

A bass virtuoso who has been performing professionally since the age of nine, Mohini has been recognized as one of Forbes India’s Top Musicians Under 30 and is the only woman ranked among MusicRadar’s Top 10 Bassists of the 21st Century. She’s an artist you won’t want to miss.

We’re proud to serve as the promotional partner for her upcoming performance at The Birchmere and are excited to share this remarkable artist with our community.

📍 The Birchmere 📅 Sunday, August 2 | 7:30 PM 🎟️ Get Tickets link in bio and The Birchmere

04/27/2026

Join us for an evening with Santoor virtuoso Vinay Desai, who brings a fresh, contemporary lens to Indian classical music while staying rooted in tradition. Whether you’re new to the form or a longtime listener, this is a great chance to experience it live in an intimate setting.

He’ll be joined by tabla artist Anirudh Alva Changkakoti, whose sensitive, finely tuned accompaniment and growing international presence make him an exciting collaborator on stage.

Presented in partnership with the City of Gaithersburg.

📅 Saturday, May 9, 2026 | 8 PM  📍 Arts Barn, Gaithersburg, MD
🎟️ Tickets | Link in bio

Address

5301 Tuckerman Ln
North Bethesda, MD
20852

Website

http://www.districtofraga.com/, https://bio.site/districtofraga

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when District of Raga posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your establishment to be the top-listed arts & entertainment in North Bethesda?