The central developmental form of tabla: a theme (stated with its khali counterpart) is expanded through paltas that may only rearrange, regroup, and extend the theme's own bols. Foreign strokes break the form — the discipline is the point.
A performance runs theme, dohra (doubled statement), systematic paltas of rising intricacy, and a closing tihai. Delhi and Ajrada are the kaida schools par excellence, with distinct chalans; every gharana maintains a core kaida repertoire as its pedagogical spine. Fluent improvised palta-making within the rules is a defining test of maturity.
Reference: Sadanand Naimpalli, Theory and Practice of Tabla (Popular Prakashan, 2005).