Padhant

Padhant in Hindustani classical music or Indian classical dance refers to the recitation of rhythmic syllables, known as bol, during a performance.^[1] The term is derived from the Hindi word padhna, meaning "to read, study or recite".^[2] Padhant is closely associated with the percussion instrument tabla and the classical dance Kathak, and the recitation of rhythmic patterns before playing them is considered an art in itself.^[3] The dancer in Kathak would pause at intervals to recite the rhythms before executing them through dance.^[3] The recitation is often accompanied by hand gestures.^[4] The recited syllables are also used in storytelling, creating an atmosphere or inducing a mood in the audience; for example, in a performance of Kalidasa's Meghaduta (Cloud Messenger), the sounds ghe-ghe-thi-ta can signify a rumble of clouds or, its expanded version, the arrival of clouds.^[5] In Carnatic music, a similar concept is called konnakol.^[5]