Theka: Keharwa (2 Variations) MCQs Quiz | Class 9
This quiz is for Class 9 students of Hindustani Music Percussion Instruments (Code 036). It covers the Practical Unit topic on Theka: Keharwa, focusing on playing keharwa with two variations in thah/dugun. Test your knowledge, submit the quiz to see your score, and download the PDF answer sheet for review.
Understanding Keharwa Theka and its Variations
Keharwa is one of the most popular and widely used Taals in Indian music, especially in light and folk music genres like Bhajans, Ghazals, and film songs. Its simple and catchy 8-beat structure makes it very accessible for beginners.
Structure of Keharwa Taal
A ‘Taal’ is a rhythmic cycle in Indian classical music. Keharwa has the following structure:
- Matras (Beats): 8
- Vibhag (Divisions): 2 divisions of 4 matras each (4 + 4).
- Taali (Clap): On the 1st matra.
- Khali (Wave): On the 5th matra. The Khali is an unstressed beat, often marked by a wave of the hand.
The Basic Theka (Bol)
The fundamental syllables or ‘bols’ for Keharwa Theka are:
Dha Ge Na Ti Na Ka Dhi Na
This is recited with the Vibhag structure as:
- Vibhag 1 (Taali): Dha Ge Na Ti
- Vibhag 2 (Khali): Na Ka Dhi Na
Understanding Lay: Thah and Dugun
Lay refers to the tempo or speed of a rhythm. For this topic, two main Lays are important:
- Thah (also called Ekgun): This is the base speed or single time. One bol is played for every one matra (beat).
- Dugun: This is the double speed. Two bols are played for every one matra. The entire cycle is completed twice in the same time it takes to complete it once in Thah.
| Lay | Matra 1 | Matra 2 | Matra 3 | Matra 4 | Matra 5 | Matra 6 | Matra 7 | Matra 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thah | Dha | Ge | Na | Ti | Na | Ka | Dhi | Na |
| Dugun | DhaGe | NaTi | NaKa | DhiNa | DhaGe | NaTi | NaKa | DhiNa |
Two Common Variations of Keharwa
Apart from the basic theka, musicians use many variations (prakars) to add flavor to their performance. Here are two simple variations:
- Variation 1: Dha Dha Ti Ta | Na Na Dhi Na
This variation uses doubled bols like ‘Dha Dha’ and ‘Na Na’ to create a different rhythmic feel. - Variation 2: Dha Ge Ti Ta | Na Ka Dhi Na
Here, the 3rd and 4th bols (‘Na Ti’) of the basic theka are replaced with ‘Ti Ta’, which gives a sharper sound and a slight change in groove.
Quick Revision Points
- Keharwa is an 8-beat Taal.
- It is divided into two sections of 4 beats each.
- The first beat (Sam) is a Taali, and the fifth beat is a Khali.
- Thah means single speed (one bol per beat).
- Dugun means double speed (two bols per beat).
- Variations (prakars) are used to embellish the basic theka.
Extra Practice Questions
- Write down the bols of Keharwa theka in Dugun lay.
- How many Taalis and Khalis are there in Keharwa Taal?
- What is the difference between Matra and Vibhag?
- In which types of music is Keharwa most commonly used?
- Try to create a simple third variation of Keharwa theka using the bols you know.
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