#Kirtan

Kirtan is a collective ritual where participants chant the same phrases in rhythmic unison. Ostensibly a path to spiritual elevation, it often devolves into an obsessive focus on a neighbor’s off-key note. Under the banner of tradition and sanctity, a mini-totalitarian ring ruled by claps and harmonies emerges. Contradicting meditation, it demands surrender to a sonic whirlpool while promising the dubious reward of Instagrammable moments. In this curious practice, communion with the divine takes second place to the bonding of fellow chanters.