Benares gharana

After some time performing in Benares, Pandit Ram Sahai felt the need to make a significant change in his tabla playing.

For six months, he withdrew into seclusion, and worked to develop what is now known as the Benares baj or style of tabla playing.

The philosophy behind this new style of tabla playing is that it would be versatile enough to perform solo, and to accompany any form of music or dance.

The tabla would be able to play delicately, as required for khyal, or more aggressively, like pakhawaj, for the accompaniment of dhrupad or kathak dance.

The Benares style makes use of the more resonant strokes of tabla, such as Na (played on the lao), and Din.