--- url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-in/faq/instruments-artforms/what-is-the-ajrara-gharana' title: 'What is the Ajrara gharana?' author: name: rajeevk url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-in/user/fce96177fd193d3a' date: '2026-10-18T23:18:12+00:00' type: website summary: 'The Ajrara gharana is a school of tabla from Meerut district, an offshoot of Delhi, known for qaidas in aad laya.' tags: - 'Instruments & artforms' image: 'https://kalasudha.com/themes/custom/music_agency/assets/icon/logo.svg' published: true og: site_name: KalaSudha 'image:url': 'https://kalasudha.com/themes/custom/music_agency/assets/icon/logo.svg' 'image:secure_url': 'https://kalasudha.com/themes/custom/music_agency/assets/icon/logo.svg' 'image:type': image/svg+xml 'image:alt': KalaSudha --- FAQ · Instruments & artforms # What is the Ajrara gharana? Updated 19 October 2026 The [**Ajrara gharana**](/en-in/gharana/ajrara-gharana), also spelt Ajrada, is a school of [tabla](/en-in/instrumental/hindustani-classical/tabla) that arose in the late 18th or early 19th century in the village of Ajrara, in Meerut district. Most accounts trace it to two brothers, Kallu Khan and Miru Khan, who learnt in Delhi, making it an offshoot of the Delhi gharana. Its players add the ring finger to the Delhi technique. It is best known for qaidas, themes with set variations, in **aad laya**, three strokes to every two beats. [Ustad Akram Khan](/en-in/artist/akram-khan) plays in the gharana today. Was this answer helpful? 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Sat 21 Nov, 6:30 PM. ](/en-in/event/a-hundred-strings-in-bournemouth-ragas-by-the-sea) - [ A Hundred Strings in London: Plucked and Struck Grammy-nominated sitarist Adnan Khan, Vinay Desai on santoor and Ustad Akram Khan on tabla at St Saviour's, Pimlico, on 22 November 2026. Part of A Hundred… ](/en-in/event/a-hundred-strings-in-london-plucked-and-struck) - [ A Hundred Strings in Manchester: Strings of Kashmir and Delhi Grammy-nominated sitarist Adnan Khan, Vinay Desai on santoor, Ustad Akram Khan and Manchester's Ustad Shahbaz Hussain on tabla. Fri 20 Nov, 7 PM, The Stoller… ](/en-in/event/a-hundred-strings-in-manchester-strings-of-kashmir-and-delhi) - [ A Hundred Strings in Oxford: Two Strings, One Pulse Grammy-nominated sitarist Adnan Khan, Vinay Desai on santoor and Ustad Akram Khan on tabla at the Holywell Music Room, part of our November tour A Hundred… ](/en-in/event/a-hundred-strings-in-oxford-two-strings-one-pulse) - [ London Ragas: Pandit Debasis Chakroborty & Ustad Akram Khan Pandit Debasis Chakroborty brings Indian slide guitar to London Ragas, with Ustad Akram Khan on tabla. Sat 26 Sept, The Tate Institute, doors 5:45 PM ](/en-in/event/london-ragas-pandit-debasis-chakroborty-ustad-akram-khan) - [ Norwich Ragas: Tabla Solo by Ustad Akram Khan Ustad Akram Khan brings a powerful tabla solo to Kala Festival 2026 at St Andrew's Hall, Norwich, with sarangi by Satwinder Pal Singh. ](/en-in/event/norwich-ragas-tabla-solo-by-ustad-akram-khan) - [ Cambridge Ragas: Resonance of Sitar, Slide Guitar, and Tabla Experience the depth of Indian Classical Music in Cambridge on Sept 20 at Junction. Sitar, Slide Guitar, Tabla, and renewal await! ](/en-in/event/cambridge-ragas-resonance-of-sitar-slide-guitar-and-tabla) - [ Dartington Ragas Festival: Strings, Voices & Rhythms A full day of Indian classical music and dance at Dartington Trust Hall: Kathak, Dhrupad, sitar, slide guitar, sarangi, piano and tabla, with Ustad Akram Khan… ](/en-in/event/dartington-ragas-festival-strings-voices-rhythms) - [ Tabla Tales: Unveiling the Secrets of Rhythm with Ustad Akram Khan Master the Versatile Art of “Tabla” in this intensive workshop with one of the instrument's most important exponents. ](/en-in/event/tabla-tales-unveiling-the-secrets-of-rhythm-with-ustad-akram-khan) - [ Eternal Echoes: From Ancient Voice to Modern Strings in Cambridge Dhrupad voice and drone, then the Trinity Trio at Lee Seng Tee Hall, Cambridge: Pandit Debasis Chakroborty's slide guitar, Deepak Shah's piano and Ustad Akram… ](/en-in/event/eternal-echoes-from-ancient-voice-to-modern-strings-in-cambridge) - [ East meet West: Pianist Raymond Yiu × Deepak Shah with Tabla & Slide Guitar Award-winning pianists Raymond Yiu & Deepak Shah unite East and West, joined by other maestros, Ustad Akram Khan and Pt Debasis Chakroborty. ](/en-in/event/east-meet-west-pianist-raymond-yiu-deepak-shah-with-tabla-slide-guitar) - [ Reading Raga Resonance: Slide Guitar, Piano & Tabla Solo Splendour Piano & Indian slide guitar exploring timeless ragas, anchored by tabla;Reading celebration of Indian classical music, part of Kala Festival. ](/en-in/event/reading-raga-resonance-slide-guitar-piano-tabla-solo-splendour) - [ Echoes of Tradition: Indian Slide Guitar, Tabla & Instrumental Duet Three traditions on one London stage at The Bhavan: Pandit Debasis Chakroborty's Indian slide guitar with Hanif Khan, then a tabla duet from Ustad Akram Khan… ](/en-in/event/echoes-of-tradition-indian-slide-guitar-tabla-instrumental-duet) - [ Norwich Ragas: Piano & Slide Guitar Unbound Piano and Indian slide guitar play ragas over tabla at The Assembly House, Norwich: a Kala Festival 2025 double bill with Deepak Shah, Pandit Debasis… ](/en-in/event/norwich-ragas-piano-slide-guitar-unbound) Show all 14 events [ Previous question What is Kathak? ](/en-in/faq/instruments-artforms/what-is-kathak) [ Next question What is the Benares gharana? ](/en-in/faq/instruments-artforms/what-is-the-benares-gharana)