Kirtan guides
Longer reads for families planning a kirtan, and for anyone curious about what happens in one. For quick, practical pointers, see Kirtan tips.
- The Hare Krishna mantra: what it means and how it is chantedThe Hare Krishna mantra is sixteen names in a fixed pattern: Hare, Krishna and Rama. ISKCON's translation is "O Lord, O energy of the Lord, please engage me in Your service." Chanted aloud with others it is kirtan; chanted quietly on beads it is japa.
- How to host a kirtan at homeTo host a kirtan at home, fix a date and a start time, book an artist who suits your family's tradition, clear a room for floor seating, and plan the singing first and the food after. An hour to two hours is a comfortable length.
- Kirtan festivals in India and abroad: where, when and who leadsThe best-known kirtan festivals are the Mayapur Kirtan Mela in West Bengal each February or March, Kirtan Rasa in the UAE each December, Radhadesh Mellows in Belgium each January, and Sadhu Sanga in the US each Memorial Day weekend. Most are free or low-cost and open to all.
- Kirtan with children: how to make it workKirtan suits children well because it is call and response: short lines that are easy to repeat. Give them a simple instrument, a seat near the singers, an early slot and a clear job, and keep the first kirtan short.
- What is kirtan? The traditions explained for familiesKirtan is devotional singing, usually in call and response: a lead singer sings a line and the gathering sings it back. It is not one religion's practice. Sikhs, Vaishnavas and many other Hindu families each have their own kirtan, with their own words, music and customs.