---
url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-in/faq/instruments-artforms/what-is-the-benares-gharana'
title: 'What is the Benares gharana?'
author:
  name: rajeevk
  url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-in/user/fce96177fd193d3a'
date: '2026-10-18T23:30:10+00:00'
updated: '2026-10-19T22:06:13+00:00'
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summary: 'The Benares gharana is a school of tabla founded by Ram Sahai in Benares, known for a powerful, open sound and full-hand strokes.'
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 FAQ · Instruments & artforms

# What is the Benares gharana?

 Updated 19 October 2026

 

The [**Benares gharana**](/en-in/gharana/benares-gharana-tabla) is a school of [tabla](/en-in/instrumental/hindustani-classical/tabla) playing named after Benares (Varanasi), where Ram Sahai founded it in the late 18th or 19th century. Gharana accounts say he studied in Lucknow, so the school descends from the Lucknow tabla gharana. Its sound is powerful and open, built on resonant strokes such as na and din, and its players favour full-hand strokes. Lineage accounts say Ram Sahai wanted a style that could carry a solo and accompany singing, instrumental music and Kathak. [Kousic Sen](/en-in/artist/kousic-sen) trained with masters of the gharana.



 

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## Related pages

 3 pages mention this question

 

 

###  Artists (1) 

- [   Kousic Sen Born into a musical family in Calcutta and trained by great masters of the Banaras Gharana, Kousic is admired worldwide for his powerful yet sensitive tabla…     ](/en-in/artist/kousic-sen)
 
  

###  Events (2) 

- [   Raga Unison at Southampton: Wind, Drums and Strings \| Double Bill Concert A double-bill concert of outstanding South Asian music, by the finest of their craft. Visiting artist and three-time Grammy nominee Ajay Prasanna jams with…     ](/en-in/event/raga-unison-at-southampton-wind-drums-and-strings-double-bill-concert)
- [   Oxford Raga Unison: Duet of Winds and Drums Two living legends of their craft at the Oxford.Featuring Grammy-nominated bansuri master Pt. Ajay Prasanna & Tabla maestro Kousic Sen.     ](/en-in/event/oxford-raga-unison-duet-of-winds-and-drums)
 
  

 

 

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