call & response chanting

Kirtan

Singing has always been a natural conduit for storytelling and prayer. Every culture carries its unique flavor and tradition. Kirtan hails from the temples and hearts of India, where it has been practiced for thousands of years. This style of singing is rooted in call and response chanting of Sanskrit mantras and devotional songs. At its core, it is considered a spiritual practice and pathway of self discovery, and a form of yoga and meditation. Each repetition of the mantra is a way to gather our awareness and concentration and to be fully present in the moment. The mantras themselves are like gateways to different aspects of ourselves. The supporting music offers it's beautiful flavor of melodies and instrumentation that make the practice sweet and fun. It's like a child taking cough syrup: the mantras are the medicine and the music is the sweet syrup that helps it go down.