Kirtans

What is a kirtan?

A little more information for those who may be a bit nervous or intimidated…

First of all, Kirtan is a gathering of  people who sing uplifting chants, enjoying the sense of community such singing creates.  Chants usually describe positive universal qualities such as love, strength and peace that when sung can help people feel as if they are embodying such characteristics.

But I can’t sing! It doesn’t matter if you sing like a nightingale or nails on a chalkboard, kirtans are  less about singing and more about joining the power of your voice to the voice of the group.  Here is where the power of a kirtan lies, community.  We encourage you to sing as you sing in the shower or your car!

But I don’t know any chants!  Chants are slowly introduced to attendees so that even those who don’t know them can sing along.  They usually have a few lines which are then repeated continuously, and if you forget some words no worries.

Do I just come alone? Can I bring a friend? Come alone (although you won’t really be alone, you will see many familiar faces from Asha) or bring as many friends as you’d like.  It is a great experience to feel the energy of a community of  voices at a kirtan.

Kirtan is for all people. There are no masters of kirtan, no experts, no teachers, no advanced students, no beginners. The practice itself is the teacher, guiding us to ourselves. Kirtan teaches itself by allowing us to enter into a mystery world — a world where all the logic of our minds, all the conditioning and learning are left outside — and we allow ourselves to expand into the mystery.

We hope to see you soon!