Ratha-yatra on Sunday

We found out last month that the London Ratha-yatra festival, to which so many of our regular chanters go, clashed with our June date, so we've changed our June kirtan to 27th. We hope this doesn't inconvenience anyone.

The annual Ratha-yatra is a colourful and kirtan-exuberant street festival and if you're free on Sunday, you may like to take part. You can find out the details here and here. It's great fun and a tremendous atmosphere. Maybe we'll see you there!

Pictured above is Jahnavi, leading kirtan at last year's festival.

24 Hour Kirtan in Birmingham

About ten of us Oxfordian chanters went up to Birmingham at the weekend to take part in the eleventh, annual 24 hour kirtan at the Bala temple. We didn't stay the full stint, but it was a really wonderful experience just to sit and chant for seven hours straight. Not just sitting, either - quite a lot of dancing happened too, as we all became swept up in the blissful atmosphere produced by the chanting.

Eleven years ago, these events started as very small affairs, with a small core of dedicated chanters - now they have grown and there were over five thousand people there, this last weekend, taking part. They came from all over the country, many staying in accommodation overnight, so as to stay the whole two days.

The Mayapuris - an up and coming new kirtan group were there, and led kirtans in many different moods. And Sachinandana Swami - a German kirtaniya - was an inspiring speaker and kirtan leader also. A great event altogether, and I'll try in future to let you know about these beforehand so you can come also, if you've a mind! They are a perfect way to recharge one's spiritual batteries.

What is Kirtan

What is Kirtan?

Kirtan is an experience like no other. It combines sacred mantra, or spiritual words with vibrant, joyous music that lifts the soul and energizes the body. Its beauty lies in its simplicity. One leader sings the mantra, accompanied by a few instruments. After each line, the group – however large or small, respond with the same line. This call and response continues as the kirtan slowly unfolds.

Though the kirtan tradition originated in ancient India, it is no less relevant to our modern times. With the increasing demands of the average working life, kirtan is perhaps even more beneficial than ever.

In kirtan, there are no rules – you can sit or stand, or better yet, dance! You can clap or play instruments, and sing to your heart’s content. The only thing necessary is an open heart, open mind, and open ears.

(In our Oxford kirtans we generally sit, though there is space to dance if you are so moved!)

The Merry Month of May

We have two scholars lined up to lead us in kirtan this month: Dr Kenneth Valpey who received his DPhil in Oxford a few years back, has returned this term to engage in a research project into the Sanskrit text, the Bhagavata-Purana.

Kenneth has a musical bent, which led him to take part in the Gauranga Bhajana band in the 1990s, performing kirtan in various venues across Europe, including in Moscow to an audience of 35,000. He was also a member of the St Cross college choir, while a student here in Oxford. He led kirtan for us in 2007 and we're very happy to welcome him back for another session.

Gopal needs no introduction to our regular chanters. He's one of our stalwart and popular kirtaniyas and is currently working on his DPhil in Hindu Studies, here in Oxford, working out the intricacies of karma, destiny and time in the Srimad Bhagavatam. We hope none of the forementioned will prevent him from turning up on Sunday, at 4.00 p.m at the Friends Meeting House, 43, St. Giles, to lead us in deep and joyful kirtan.

Spring Kirtans.

Our March and April kirtans were resplendent with jars of golden daffodils, tastefully arranged by Shyama.

Jahnavi and Tulasi Harrison (golden-haired) were our guest kirtaniyas in March, delighting us with their musicality and sweet, meditative chanting. Everyone seems to have got the hang now of clapping along in rhythm, so it was a rousing kirtan.

Jahnavi spoke a little about her experiences last year on the Mantralogy tour, bringing kirtan to five continents. After chanting with all kinds of people, from all kinds of cultures, from the very poor to the very rich, the whacky to the highly respectable, the young and old, she came to the conclusion that "kirtan is for everyone"; everyone likes it and everyone can feel it's beneficial effects. Jahnavi has just left England again for New York, to spend some months there with Gaura Vani and his kirtan band, As Kindred Spirits. We'll keep you posted of any interesting developments there.

For April's kirtan, our own local, home-grown, organic kirtaniyas, Shyama, Rembert and Meru, led us in a variety of chants, including the very ancient "om namo bhagavate vasudevaya". It was the fourth anniversary of The Kirtan Experience in Oxford and we celebrated with cake.

Our Distinguished Photographers

Our kirtan group is lucky to have two first-class photographers as it's members, who've kindly lent their talents for this blog over the last few years. Claire Williams (above) gained a distinction in her photography diploma last year and is planning to take a degree in photography next. Claire is presently in India taking photos for the Raleigh India Expedition, for young people. You can see her photographs on their blog here

India must be pretty much a photographer's paradise, with so much colour, sunlight and unusual sights.



Pavel Tomanec gained a distinction in his BA in photography last year from Westminster University. And funnily enough - he's also in India.

We are missing them - had nobody to take photos of March's kirtan which is a shame as it was very picturesque. But wish them both well in their future careers in photography.

Kirtan Mellows.

Friends of Oxford Kirtans - Jahnavi, Tulasi and Mark, were in Belgium last week for a whole weekend of kirtan, with chanters from all over the world. "Radhadesh Mellows" took place in a Belgian castle, near the Somme. The whole weekend was broadcast live on webcams and recordings from the weekend have now been podcasted on the Radhadesh website. Here is one of Jahnavi leading the chant: Radhadesh Mellows Day 1 , and there are many others to listen to: here.

24 hour kirtans and kirtan weekends are becoming popular - we hear of many of them around the place. We hope to persuade Jahnavi to write of her experiences with them; in the meantime, enjoy the kirtans!

The Tambora.

As mentioned below, our last kirtan was enhanced by this beautiful and ancient instrument, the tambora. I'm always delighted when Ranchor brings his to the kirtan, as it produces an almost 'mystical' sound as a background to the chanting.

There is a very technical explanation of the instrument here, if you're interested enough to read it - I had never realised how much there was to what seemed a rather simple construction of a gourd, a piece of wood and some strings - each of which only plays one note. As the article describes: "Every single string produces it's own cascading range of harmonics and at the same time builds up a particular resonance..." It's this which gives the effect of almost being in another dimension, when the tambora plays.

It's also intriguing that there are 'male' and 'female' tamboras! And there can be no doubt that Ranchor's is a male.

December Kirtan Photos.

(Please click on photo to get full effect)

Photos from our December candle-lit kirtan, with Ranchor Prime. It was lovely!



Ranchor's mighty tambora...

...and Shaunaka pretending to play it!




Afterwards we feasted on delicious home-made pizza and mulled grape-juice. The chanting, the company and the candlelight were all mellow and harmonious and I think we all left feeling good.

Many thanks once again to Claire who kindly took these photos. More about her in an upcoming post!

December Kirtan.

Good news! Ranchor is coming to lead our December Kirtan. As he ushered in the year for us in January,he will see it out for us in December. There's pleasing symmetry!

Ranchor plans to bring his Tamboura, which as it is probably the largest in Britain, is no mean feat. It has such a special sound, to enhance the chanting.

So - Kirtan by Candlelight - wonderful chanting, Christmas fare, lovely company - what more could a fellow want!

Date: Sunday, 20th December.

Time: 4.00 p.m.

Venue: The Friends Meeting House, 43, St. Giles.

Kirtan by Candlelight.

November's Kirtan by Candlelight was beautiful - both the chanting and the candlelight!

A chanter took these splendid photos, to give you some idea.

Our next Kirtan by Candlelight will be this Sunday, 20th December at 4.00 p.m. It would be nice to see you there!

Ranchor's New Book

Ranchor Prime, well-known to Oxford chanters, for his blissful kirtans, is also a writer and publisher. His interest in conservation, the environment and animal welfare, has led him to write a new book, launched recently in London.

Cows and the Earth is a book about ancient methods of cow-farming, in which cows are enabled to live natural lives and deaths, instead of being slaughtered; and how these are being revived and practised in a Vaishnava community in England. Ranchor presents the case for more compassionate husbandry of dairy cattle, showing how this may ultimately be of benefit to the Earth and to humans, as well as the cows.

A pair of oxen actually attended the book launch in the centre of London, with their good friend Chrissie Hyndes who was also there, and who wrote a foreword to the book.




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Speaking of Pumpkins...

Look at these beautifully carved ones, by Jahnavi! She carved them for a Mantralogy Kirtan in Australia at the end of October. Vastly superior to our humble efforts - she can come and carve ours next year!

The top one is a lotus flower, and the bottom is 'Om' in Sanskrit character.

Jahnavi - a favourite amongst Oxford kirtaniyas - has been touring for many months now, with Gaura Vani and As Kindred Spirits, holding great kirtans in many far-flung parts of the world. I know that, although it has been a wonderful time for her, it has had it's difficulties, being apart from home and family for so long. So Jahnavi, we're routing for you!

October Chanting.

Pictures from our glowing October kirtan. Gopal and Rembert led mellow chants in keeping with the season and we sang the very special Damodarastakam song, with it's lilting melody. A kirtan to remember!

Photos courtesy of photographer Claire Williams, who is off to India for a few months - and takes our blessings with her for a wonderful retreat.