Kirtan

Call-and-response worship

Kirtan is a form of devotional chanting in Hindu and Sikh traditions, typically involving call-and-response singing of mantras, hymns, or the names of deities.

Participants often accompany the singing with hand drums and harmonium.

In Western contexts, kirtan has spread through yoga communities as a meditative musical practice: We went to a kirtan at the ashram last night.

devotional

mantra

Repeated focus phrase

chantingRhythmic repetitive vocalization
call-and-responseAlternating musical exchange
praiseExpression of approval

sacred · meditation · spiritual · congregational · repetition · divine · worship

Hindu

ISKCON

Hindu devotional organization

Hare KrishnaHindu devotional movement
KrishnaEighth avatar of Vishnu
ashramHindu spiritual retreat

temple

instruments

harmonium

Foot-pumped keyboard instrument

tablaIndian paired hand drums
cymbalsClashing metal percussion
bellsStruck metal sound-makers

vocals · drums

gathering

congregation

Assembled group of worshippers

communityCollective of connected people
circleCurved closed shape
ashramHindu spiritual retreat

temple · festival · celebration · assembly · group · collective

Sikh

gurdwara

Sikh house of worship

hymnsReligious songs of worship

Kirtan

mantra

ISKCON

harmonium

congregation

gurdwara

Kirtan

Opposites

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