Keherwa is one of the famous talas of Hindustani music. It is also one of the common taal in North India, used in various popular compositions of Indian music. Keherwa has many variations including dhumaali, "bhajani", and qawwali etc.[1]
Keherwa is a 8-beat pattern used in ragas. It has eight beats in two equal divisions (vibhag). The period between every two beats is equal. The first beat out of 8 beats is called "sam" and the fifth beat out of 8 beats is called "khali". Sam is the I st Division. Khali is the II nd Division. To exhibit the Keherwa, the audience claps on the first beat and then shows that fifth beat is waived (not clapped).
Cyclical series of equally periodical beats consisted of recurring claps and waves: clap, 2, 3, 4, waive, 2, 3, 4, clap, 2, 3, 4, waive, 6, 7, 8,
It has a characteristic pattern of bols (theka).
| dha | ge | na | tin | | | na | ka | dhin | na | | |
| x | 2 |
There are some pedagogical variations as to the actual syllables pronounced when reciting the bol.