Theka
ठेकाHindiSay it: ṭhe · kaa
- ṭ ḍ — t and d with the tongue tip curled back
- bh, dh, gh… — the consonant with a breath of air after it
- aa ee oo ē ō — long vowels: hold them twice as long
The basic drum pattern that defines a Hindustani tala
RhythmKathak
Meaning
The theka is the standard sequence of tabla syllables that marks out a tala, such as 'dha dhin dhin dha' for Teentaal. It keeps the cycle audible while the dancer improvises footwork and compositions over it.
Also written: thekaa, theka bol