Understand
What Is Kirtan?
Kirtan is call-and-response chanting of mantras and sacred names, usually with music — one of the simplest, most joyful ways to share in chanting.
Kirtan is a form of devotional chanting, usually call-and-response and set to music, in which a leader sings a mantra or sacred name and the group repeats it. It needs no musical skill or special knowledge — it's an accessible, communal way to focus the mind and feel connected.
Kirtan is a form of chanting and mantra, most often practised call-and-response: one person sings a line — a mantra or a sacred name — and everyone else sings it back, usually accompanied by simple music. It's one of the easiest ways to take part in chanting, with no formalities and no need to be a trained singer.
Because there are no restrictions and no special skill required, kirtan is open to everyone. You can chant in a group or quietly on your own, and the shared rhythm and repetition make it a warm, uplifting way to steady the mind and feel connected — to yourself, to others, and to something larger. It's often experienced as both joyful and calming.
Frequently asked questions
- Do I need to be able to sing for kirtan?
- No. Kirtan is for everyone — you don't need a good voice or any musical training. You simply repeat the lines back, and the joy is in taking part, not in performing.
- How is kirtan different from chanting?
- Kirtan is a specific, usually musical and call-and-response style of chanting sacred names or mantras in a group. Chanting is the broader practice; kirtan is one warm, communal form of it.