> Sometimes but not always. Most ragas are the same ascending and descending. They are more like the western modes system.
I in this list, http://soundofindia.com/raagas.asp I see half or more than half have different Arohana (ascending scale of notes) and Avarohana (descending)
Only ~15 of them are popularly performed though. And the melakartas would form the minority of the ragas in a typical concert, although they often tend to be the centerpieces.
