Benares gharānā is one of the six most common styles of playing of the Indian tabla.
Shahid Parvez Khan at a concert accompanied by Benaras Gharana tabla player Pt. Samta Prasad
A tabla is a pair of hand drums from the Indian subcontinent. Since the 18th century, it has been the principal percussion instrument in Hindustani classical music, where it may be played solo, as an accompaniment with other instruments and vocals, or as a part of larger ensembles. It is frequently played in popular and folk music performances in India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The tabla is an essential instrument in the bhakti devotional traditions of Hinduism and Sikhism, such as during bhajan and kirtan singing. It is one of the main qawwali instruments used by Sufi musicians. The instrument is also featured in dance performances such as Kathak. Tabla is a rhythmic instrument.
Tabla
200 BCE carvings at Buddhist Bhaja Caves, Maharashtra, India showing a woman playing a pair of drums and another dancer performing.
Some drums of central India that look like tabla, but they do not have Syahi which creates the unique Tabla sound.
Ustad Zakir Hussain performing at Konark, Odisha. This illustrates the common sitting position used by tabla players.
