Devotees of Kirtan in ancient India might have been surprised to see how the practice has caught on in modern-day Twickenham, at the spiritual centre of The Hare and Moon.
The call-and-response style of chanting was first recorded in the sixth century, as part of the bhakti movement begun by South India’s poet saints.
Bhakti refers to the process of channelling divine energy through devotion, with music usually the favoured vehicle for praise.
Kirtan thus involves the use of traditional Indian instruments to accompany the chanting of Hindi mantras.
Guided by a leader, a group will sing a repeated word or phrase, trying to achieve a meditative state of calm that would have connected ancient practitioners with their desired deity.
However, the practice does not need to be associated with one religion in particular, said Nikki Slade, a Kirtan expert based in Twickenham.
Leading the session I dropped into in January, she sang Hindi mantras, but later explained that their meaning was universal and could be adopted by people of all backgrounds.
Indeed, the practice has become popular in the West because of its versatility and uses beyond religious praise.
Many people take part in Kirtan for its sense of creative freedom, including Christian Thurow, a German risk manager who lives in East Sheen and took part in Slade’s New Year session.
He said: “Throughout the day, you have to hold back so often, you can’t really say what you want to say.
“Here you have a chance just to let go and to chant, and it’s amazing to free up your voice.”
In a society where people are becoming increasingly disconnected from one another and spending more time online, Kirtan sessions also foster community.
Thurow enthused: “I think coming together and singing together, it has a strong bonding effect, and it’s really something that is a shared experience.
“Everybody is equal, everybody contributes a bit to the overall experience, and that’s just a wonderful practice.”
Although Kirtan can be explained on paper, it must be understood through sound.
Tap the link below to listen to my full broadcast about what Kirtan is and why it’s thriving in London.
Featured image credit: The Hare and Moon in Twickenham, by Megan Norcott
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