Join us for our first Kirtan

We are introducing Kirtan to the rosary of offerings at the Vishuddha Centre. Unless you have taken part in a Kirtan session in the past, you may well not know what Kirtan is. It’s a call and response musical meditation led by a Kirtan singer who usually also plays the harmonium. There may be other musicians. It’s fully participatory. The Kirtan singer will sing phrases which are repeated by the community. The ‘phrases’ are the pure sound vibrations of Sanskrit chants and mantras originally developed by the ‘bhakti’ culture of the sub-continent. This is a heart centred tradition which believes in the compelling draw of Universal Beauty, which is accessible to all and that deep immersion in the resonance of chanting is a way of connecting with its sweetness. Like many of us, I enjoy the power of song and was taken by this beautiful practice as a way of developing what might be called the ‘inner voice’, where we no longer feel like the sole agent of what we are singing, but as participant in a universal dialogue. This experience seems to be enhanced by being in community together. It has been popularised in the West through singers such as Krishna Das and Nikki Slade who i trained with. In essence Kirtan is non-denominational, and anyone can join. Sessions are run with a dignity suitable to the resonances we pay attention to. No expertise in singing is necessary. The first Kirtan session is planned for Friday February 24th between 7.30pm and 8.45pm. You can now book this session here. Two more dates are pencilled in on the 24th March and the 28th April. If you are attending please arrive before 7.30pm. Attendance is free, but we will welcome donations on the night. These will go the charity Crisis.

You can book a space in your chosen session on our classes page by selecting one of the dates above on our schedule.

Derek Elliott