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title: 'What are the six tabla gharanas?'
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summary: 'The six tabla gharanas are Delhi, Ajrara, Lucknow, Farrukhabad, Benares and Punjab; Delhi is usually held the oldest.'
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# What are the six tabla gharanas?

 Updated 19 October 2026

 Six **[tabla](/instrument/tabla)** gharanas, or schools, are conventionally named: Delhi, Ajrara (Ajrada), Lucknow, Farrukhabad, Benares and Punjab. Delhi is usually held the oldest, founded by Siddhar Khan in the 18th century. Delhi and Ajrara belong to the Dilli baj, Lucknow and Benares to the bolder, open purab baj, and Farrukhabad balances both, while Punjab has a strong pakhawaj base.



 

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 ###  Instruments (1) 

- [   Tabla The tabla is a pair of tuned hand drums from Hindustani music: a wooden dayan and a copper or brass bayan. It is played through spoken bols in six gharanas.     ](/en-in/instrument/tabla)
 
  

 

 

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