Snapped some pictures of the process so you can get a sense for one step in these harmoniums’ journey. They were produced by DMS in Delhi, India, and have since ridden on the back of a flat-bed bicycle rickshaw, an Indian train to the port, an intercontinental ship to an American port, an American train to San Francisco, a big-rig truck to the warehouse, and finally my rental truck to get them home!

It’s a moving sight: thousands of people from all corners of the world, gathered together to sing the divine names.

This was in Mayapur during Gaura Purnima time, February 2010. Many pilgrims from Russia had just arrived, to join the already international group of Indians, Europeans, Africans, Americans, in chanting the Hare Krishna mantra nonstop. Literally, nonstop! When there wasn’t kirtan happening in the temple (and sometimes when the was), there would often be kirtan happening out in the streets, or in this case, out in the village area surrounding the ISKCON Mayapur campus.

Most of us didn’t speak each others’ languages. For some there is at least a little common English. But it is not uncommon to spend hours chanting and dancing joyfully with a group of pilgrims, making strong friendships in the process, and then after the kirtan attempt to say hello only to discover no common language! I had one close friend from Ukraine of this sort. We would dance and spin in the temple together, as bhakti brothers, solidarity in the dance steps and joy of singing Krishna’s names. Then often we would run across each other during the day – out at the market, or at a restaurant for lunch, or at my mridanga practice spot. We would exclaim “Haré Krishna!” or “Hari bol!” and smile… Sometimes we would even have conversations – me speaking English without him understanding; then he speaking Ukrainian without my understanding. Back and forth. Gesticulating, laughing, wanting to use words to express the love of friendship, but only really understanding when the other said “Krishna.” Hah! At least we understood the important part.

One major highlight of my trip to Mayapur was a full-on maha mantra kirtan led by Radhanath Swami.

I had been in Mayapur for a few weeks, and a friend recommended that I check out a book entitled “The Journey Home” by Radhanath Swami. I got a copy in the main temple’s book shop, opened the cover, and three days later, finished the book and came out for a breath of fresh air. This guy’s story is incredible – a cinematic wild ride, like a spiritual action-adventure, with encounters with saints, pilgrimages to holy places, soul searching and hard-won insights, and a triumphant meeting with his Guru. After finishing reading it, I was talking to a friend – who says to me “Oh! You know Radhanath Swami is in Mayapur right now, right?” “What!? No I didn’t know!” Well, indeed, he was in town for the Gaura Purnima festival, and would lead the shakti saturated kirtan a couple days later in the main temple room.

The video gives a little glimpse into the fervor and energy level of kirtans in Mayapur. I only got Radhanath Swami on film for a couple moments – he’s sitting down, shaven head but for a little brown tuft in back, in yellow robes, playing harmonium. He was so calm and humble, as if sitting in the eye of the storm, with so much dance and song and emotions swirling around the room!

This kirtan singer’s beauty and sincerity still haunts me, along with this simple and delicious maha mantra melody.

In Mayapur in mid Feb 2010, the village was growing by the hundreds every day as pilgrims from all over the world arrived. By the end of February, dozens of thousands of pilgrims would inflate this otherwise tiny village into a Vaishnav Mecca – for a couple weeks. With the crowds came many many kirtan leaders from many countries, and so often an informal kirtan would spring up on a street, in a park, near a temple, in a hotel room…

One day I happened upon this kirtan, in front of the main temple at ISKCON Mayapur. The band is beautifully international. And the singer… really struck a chord deep inside of me. He is so utterly relaxed, resting in the mantra; so vibrantly alive and joyful, singing to the beloved; meeting all eyes with a kind smile, occasionally closing his eyes and tasting the nectar of the chant inside. May we all find that place of sweet simple devotion!

Here’s a glimpse of Mayapur, the tiny village in West Bengal, India, that swells to 20 times its size annually when tens of thousands of Vaishnav pilgrims arrive for Gaura Purnima festival. This is the festival celebrating the ‘appearance of the golden one,’ the birthday of Chaitanya, the sixteenth-century Bhakti saint who launched what today is the modern Haré Krishna sankirtan movement.

Internationally renowned Loknath Swami is leading this kirtan, surrounded by a large crew of drums, cymbols, gongs, clappers and enthusiastic singers. You’ll see mostly men, since that’s the half of the room that I was in, but the ladies’ side of the room was also up and dancing wildly. Check out the little Radha Krishna statues that get passed from one dancer’s head to another, as the dancers spin and glorify the deities!

The sound quality isn’t great on my little camera, but hopefully this video gives a sense of the spirit of the place! Cut to the last minute of the video if you want to see really wild dancing Dancers in the front, dancers in the back, singers in the middle, prayers on the sides, clear jubilant bhakti bhav everywhere! I’ve never experienced anything like this place, Mayapur. It’s like every brick of every building is singing “Radha,” every leaf of every tree is whispering “Krishna,” and the stars rush into the sky as dusk falls cause they want to be there when the evening kirtan begins…

I’m stoked to be back in California, where the blossoming daffodils don’t know it’s still winter. I’m starting to unpack all the pics and vids from my trip.

Here’s some video footage from Kirtan Camp Costa Rica, which was entirely off the charts. They gotta make new charts periodically because of things like kirtan camp! I’ll post one of the vids here, and if you want to see another half dozen high-times clips from camp, follow this clip onto my you tube page.

The incredible thing about Kirtan Camp is the tribe vibe. Jai Uttal and Daniel Paul are the most incredible, gifted song leaders to have at the helm. Each camp seems to go deeper, as this extended chant family grows. Many of us have been to multiple camps, ‘repeat offenders,’ and those who are new often find it very easy to slip into family mode. The support and care of one another is really moving for me; it’s shaped ‘camps’ into held-spaces where I can grieve, as well as celebrate, so freely.. and feel safe doing so. I love this family! May I sing and dance and play with them till my days are done.

I’ll be adding more content soon, like songsheets for all the rockin’ kirtans Jai shared at this New Year’s Kirtan Camp Costa Rica, and pics too. If you want to catch word about updates, as well as special deals, live kirtans and workshops, please hop on the mailing list!

Right now I’m typing from a cyber cafe in Mayapur, West Bengal, India. This place is a verifiable Krishna-ville: non-stop Hare Krishna kirtan in multiple buildings here. We greet each other with “Hare Krishna!” and I’ve caught more than one security guard singing some Bengali melody of the maha mantra to himself at his post. I’m here learning to play the mridanga, a large double-headed drum that powers this style of Vaishnav kirtan music. In fact, it’s time for me to go practice! Have fun exploring the site, and feel free to drop a note with any kirtan or harmonium-related questions.

Lotsa love,
Daniel