in person · London
Kirtan & chanting circles in London
Kirtan is call-and-response chanting from the Indian devotional tradition: a leader sings a line of a mantra, usually with harmonium and drum, and the room sings it back, slowly at first and then faster until it lifts. Nobody needs to sing well, and the words are simple and repeated.
London's chanting circles also cover Vedic chanting, mantra circles and Celtic and devotional song. Most are an evening of ninety minutes to two hours, seated on cushions or chairs.
One on in the next seven days — times, venue and tickets below.
More on in similar practices: sound bath (29) · cacao (18) · ecstatic dance (47)
This week
At a glance: Kirtan & chanting circles in London
- When
- Mostly Sundays and Saturdays, usually evenings
- Regular rooms
- Colet House · Om Being
- Hosts who run most
- The Study Society · Om Being
From 10 listings: what's coming up and the last three months.
By area: Kirtan & chanting circles in east London · Kirtan & chanting circles in west London
Recently in London
- · Heartfelt Kirtan · Colet House
- · 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙡𝙮 | Mantra Circle with Eastern Wisdom · Om Being
- · 𝕤𝕡𝕖𝕔𝕚𝕒𝕝 | Kundalini & Celtic Kirtan · Om Being
- · Kirtan with Sarka · Colet House
- · Mantra Circle with Eastern Wisdom · Om Being
- · Mantra Circle with Eastern Wisdom · Om Being
Common questions
- What happens at a kirtan?
- You sit in a circle or rows facing the musicians. The leader introduces a mantra and what it means, sings each line, and everyone answers. Each chant builds over ten to twenty minutes, and there's usually silence between them. Song sheets are often handed out.
- Do I need to be religious or able to sing?
- No. The mantras come from Hindu devotion, but London kirtans welcome people of any faith or none, and the point is joining in rather than singing well. You can also just listen.