Culture, in India, although diverse and varied, still binds the country together in some form of common identification. Indian dance and music have played a remarkable role in this unification. India has a great heritage of classical dance and music. Using the body as a medium of communication, the expression of dance is perhaps the most intricate and developed, yet easily understood art form. Music too plays an important role in the Hindu religion. The tradition of Indian music should be understood in the context of Indian life and thought. It is known to be a mystical experience, analogous to yoga.

The Vedas, representing the most ancient literature known to the world, are set to a distinctive melody that is absolutely, soothing. Folk and Classical Music developed side by side. The varied human passions like agony, ecstasy, sorrow, hope and desire find expression in the subtle notes of music.

In India, music has been categorized by the scripts into two main streams known as the `Margi` and the `Desi`, roughly translated as `Classical` and `Folk`. The basic tenets of classical music has been laid down by numerous ancient texts. Hindustani and Karnatic are the two main streams of classical music. Though they have similar origins and sources according to ancient scripts, they are distinct. There are references about the Dhruvaprabhada (later transformed into the Dhrupad) in the ancient texts such as Natya Shastra of Bharata and Sangeetha Magaradham, Raga Sarangini etc. Dhrupad developed as a part of worship in temples and various rituals such as yajnas. Dhrupad has four distinct gharanas or schools namely - Gudiya Govarhar, Khandar, Dagar and Nauhar.