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Notes on Rhythmic Patterns in

Odissi Dance

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Notes on Rhythmic Patterns in Odissi Dance

Dr. Rohini Dandavate June 2012

Rhythm is referred to as Tala in Indian dance. Tala patterns in dance and music

have defined rules for the elaboration and each pattern has its own name. In this

paper I will share the tala patterns used in Odissi dance, and explain the ways in

which talas are grouped and notes counted based on the speed in which Odissi

dance numbers are set and choreographed.

Tala, Laya and Jati

A cycle of beats (tala units) of different length and speed are strung together in a

dance composition and each cycle of tala is called an avartan. Defined by the

way in which the syllables are grouped every tala is generally divided into

sections (vibhaags), not all of which may have the same number of beats and

can be recited or played on the pakhawaj (percussion instrument) in different

speeds (Laya). Lessons in tala for an Odissi dancer begin with the training of the

basic steps in Tribhangi and Chowka. Set to Ukkutas (selected syllables) or bols

the foot-work in the positions of tribhangi and chauka are practiced along with the

memorization of the bols, to help vocalize the physical movements. Gurus recite

the bols along with the playing of the pakhawaj during the training sessions. The

nomenclature for fingers used in counting tala is as follows:

In Oriya In English

1. Angusht Thumb  

2. Tarjani Index finger  

3. Madhyama Middle finger4  

4. Anamika Ring finger

5. Knishtha Little finger

The beats in each segment of tala are counted by using the following angas

(limbs):

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1. Laghu (denoted by the symbol I) is a clap of the hand followed by counting of

the fingers; these counts could vary from 3 to 4 to 5 to 7 to 9, based on the jatis,

i.e. 3 counts=tishra jati, 4 counts=chatusra jati, 5 counts=khanda jati, 7

counts=mishra jati, 9 counts=sankirna jati.

2. Druta (denoted by the symbol O) is a clap of the hand followed by a wave of

the hand; it is a fixed unit of two beats.

3. Anudruta (denoted by the symbol U) is a clap of the hand; it is a fixed unit of

one beat.

Most Talas are combinations of Laghu and Druta, while Jhampa Tala combines

Laghu, Druta and Anudruta and Eka Tala is made up of just Laghu.

Jati indicates the Laghu counts varying from 3-9 and are of the following types: 1. Tisra Jati has 3 beats 2. Cathurushra Jati has 4 beats 3. Khanda Jati has 5 beats 4. Misra Jati has 7 beats and 5. Sankeerna Jati has 9 beats.

Laya refers to the speed or tempo in which the talas are recited. The tempo of

the recitation of the bols (syllables) can be in Vilambit laya (Slow tempo), Madhya

laya (Medium tempo) or Dhruta laya (Fast tempo). In a dance number the

fundamental tala continues to be the same with the change of the tempo in

recitation. The basic units of dance in tribhangi and chauka are practiced in three

speeds or tempos by doubling and redoubling the speed of the original tempo.

Given below is an example of a tala in three speeds.

Chatusrasra Jati Eka tala

First Speed

Clap Index finger Middle finger Ring finger

Ta Ri Khi Ta

Second Speed

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Clap Index finger Middle finger Ring finger

Ta ri khi ta Ta Ri Khi Ta

Third Speed

Clap Index finger Middle finger Ring finger

Ta Ri Khi ta Ta Ri Khi Ta Ta Ri Khi Ta Ta Ri Khi Ta

In Odissi dance, Khandi is the smallest unit of dance based on a tala. The

example given below is made up of two Laghus (8 beats) in Chaturasra Ektala (a

four beat cycle)

1 2 3 4

Clap index finger middle finger ring finger

Taka dha dhagine ta (I)

takadataka ta dhagadigene dha (I)

Arasa, in comparison to a Khandi is a longer rhythmic composition in a given

Tala, and its length may cover one or more cycles of the chosen Tala. Arasas are

usually repeated three times and end on the first beat of the following cycle,

which is known as Sam. The following section gives examples of arasas set in

different talas.

Tala Patterns in Chaturasra Jati

1. Dhruva Tala- 14 beats, Avartans -2,Total beats -28, Subdivision 4 2 4 4 (IOII)

Ukuta:

Ta ethi naterekete tete (I) Thathi naam (O) Kititaka dhina dhaidhai Nati (I)

Nakhita khititak terekete dhaidhai (I)

Arasa:

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Takun dari tajhe naam (I) Drimi khita (O)

Tadri eta drimi khita (I) kadataka dhai kadataka dhai (I)

Tadri eta drimi khita (I) kadataka kadataka(O)

Tadri eta kadataka dha(I) kadataka dha dhakadatak dha (I)

dha(sam)

2. Matha Tala – 10 beats, Avartans 2,Total beats -20 Subdivision 4 2 4 (IOI)

Ukuta:

Ta ethi naterekete tete (I) tathi naam (O)

Kititaka dhina dhai dhai nati (I)

Arasa:

Dhadhina khitakadha dhina kita dhinakita(I) jenaamta kititaka(O)

Tathamta gadigene dhaidh aidhai (I) kadataka gadigene(O)

Dahidh aidhai kadataka gadigene (I)

Dha(sam)

3. Rupaka Tala – 6 beats, Avartans 4,Total beats -24 Subdivision 2 4 (OI)

Ukuta:

Dha terekete (O) dha terekete thun na (I)

Arasa:

Dhinita takita(O) dhinita ta taata ta (I) aa gadigene (O) takadha etete khititaka

gadigene(I) dhinita ta(O) takadha etete khititaka gadigene(I) dhinita ta(O)takadha

ete khititaka gadigene(I)

Dha(sam)

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4. Jhampa Tala – 7 beats, Avartans 7,Total beats -49 Subdivision 4 1 2 (I U O)

Ukuta:

Dhaik dhinna kataka dhinna (I) thunna (U) kadataka dhinna(O)

Arasa:

Kititaka Jimi Ta Jimi(I) tari (U) khita kukun(O)

Dari thala anga taka (I) diku (U) tadri ta (O)

Kititaka jena jimita jimi (I) ta (U) jimi kadataka (O)

Tari Khita kukun dari (I) thala (U) ang taka (O)

Diku taka gadi gena(I) kadatak (U) thala anga(O)

Taka diku taka gadi (I) gena (U) kadatak thala (O)

Anga taka diku taka (I) gadi (U) gena kadataka (O)

Dha(sam)

5.Tripata Tala – 8 beats, Avartans 4,Total beats -32 Subdivision 4 2 2 (I O O)

Ukuta: Dhaik tathi naka dhina (I) naka dhina (O) naka dhina (O)

Arasa:

Dhaterekete tajena takata rijena(I) Dhaterekete tajena (O) takata rijena (O)

Kinam takita tereketeta Kajena(I) Kinam takita(O) tereketeta Kajena (O)

Tereketeje naterekete jenatereke tejena (I)Tereketeje naterekete (O) jenatereke

tejena

Dhatetrekete tajena dhai dhaterekete(I) tajena thai(O) dhaterekete tajena (O)

Dha(sam)

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6.Ata Tala – 12 beats, Avartans 2,Total beats -24 Subdivision 4 4 2 2 (I I O O)

Ukuta: Ta ethi naterekete tete (I) ta ethi naterekete tete(I) dhage naati (O)

naterekete dhinakete (O)

Arasa:

Jeke jenam jenam takita(I) thinthi nakita taterekete ta(I)

Kukundari khita (O) terekete jenakita (O)

Tereketeje naterekete jenatereke tejena (I) dhaterekete tajena thai dhaterekete(I)

tajena thai (O) dhaterekete tajena (O)

thai (sam)

7.Eka Tala – 4 beats, Avartans 13,Total beats -52 Subdivision 4 (I)

Ukuta: Ta ethi naterekete tete (I)

Ta kadataka je kadataka(I) tadha kadataka je S (I)

Ta kadataka je kadataka(I) tadha kadataka je S (I)

Tadha kadataka Tadha kadataka (I) Tadha kadataka kadataka Je (I)

Tadha kadataka Tadha kadataka (I) Tadha kadataka kadataka Je (I)

Ta kaje nam taka(I) je s s kadataka (I)

Ta kaje nam taka (I) je s s kadataka(I)

Je kadataka je kadataka (I)

Je(sam)

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References

The Ukutas and tala patterns of the Arasas are from the class notes given by my

Gurus during training in Odissi dance in Kala Vikash Kendra, Cuttack. My Gurus

were Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra, Guru Raghunath Dutta and Guru Ramani

Ranjan Jena.