Taalताल
A rhythmic cycle of a fixed number of beats (matras), repeating for the length of a performance.
A taal is the metric framework a tabla (or other percussion) player keeps, analogous to a time signature but cyclical rather than linear — the cycle repeats from beat 1 (sam) around to the beat before sam again. Taals range from 4 matras (Pauri) to 19 (Inder Taal) in SurSadhak’s tabla, and are further divided into vibhags (sections) marked by tali (claps) or khali (a wave, played silently).