Riti

Hindi literature

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

The term "Riti" in Hindi literature refers to a stylistic convention or a school of poetry. This concept is deeply rooted in the Indian aesthetic theory of rasa, which describes the emotional essence of a work of art. The Riti school, prominent in classical Hindi poetry, focused on the formal aspects of composition, emphasizing specific literary devices and rhetorical patterns. These schools often drew inspiration from Sanskrit poetics, adapting its theories to the vernacular language. The Riti period in Hindi literature, roughly from the 17th to the mid-19th century, saw poets meticulously crafting verses according to these established stylistic norms.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Harishchandra
…mark the end of the Rīti period of Hindi literature (c. 1650–1850) and usher in what is called the Bhartendu epoch, which in turn leads into the modern period. His advocacy of the development of the Hindi language and his opposition to the undue importance given to Urdu in official…
Read More
…mark the end of the Rīti period of Hindi literature (c. 1650–1850) and usher in what is called the Bhartendu epoch, which in turn leads into the modern period. His advocacy of the development of the Hindi language and his opposition to the undue importance given to Urdu in official…
Read More