Shikhar Theka, Structure & Bols

Shikhar is a seventeen-matra taal from the rare-taal repertoire, met in advanced tabla study and kathak. This library divides it 6–6–2–3 with sam on 1, a clap on 7, khali on 13 and a clap on 15; note that some published sources mark the same frame with khali on 7 instead, so conventions differ — learn one marking and keep it consistent. The theka drives forward in dha tirakita dhin na cells, turns to the dry ta and tin side mid-cycle, and closes through the short two- and three-matra vibhags that give Shikhar its distinctive final ascent into sam. Those stubby closing vibhags are the technical crux: after twelve matras of even six-beat sentences, the metre suddenly shortens its stride. Count 6+6+2+3 on your hands until that gear-change is anticipated rather than survived. Keep every tirakita identical, and place the final dha dhin na as a deliberate cadence. Seventeen is prime — phrases cannot lean on symmetry, which is exactly why soloists prize this cycle.