Benares Gharana

Centered on Varanasi, the Benaras gharana draws from the region’s folk culture and khayal tradition. Its vocalists sing the bol‑banav thumri, using delicate ornamentation to highlight poetic words and evoking mood with talas such as Dadra, Deepchandi and Addha; performances often close with laggi‑chanti. The accompanying tabla tradition, founded by Ram Sahai, is known for powerful yet refined bols, tukras, gats, uthans and farads, in a purab style influenced by the pakhawaj.