Nagar Kirtans | |||||
Nagar Kirtan (Sanskrit:नगर कीर्तन;IAST:nāgara-kīrtana), ornagar sankirtan, is a tradition in theIndian religions involving theprocessional singing of holyhymns by a group in a residential area.[1][2]
In Hinduism, Bengali saintChaitanya Mahaprabhu[3] propagated ideas ofbhakti, or devotion to a personal God, throughkirtan (collective recitation of hymns) and nagar kirtan (kirtan the in form of religious processions),[4] and is credited in theVaishnava tradition with introduction of the custom.[5] The congregational singing of Chaitanya was done to folk tunes and accompanied by the boisterous booming of drums and cymbals.[6]
A February 2021 video of a nagar sankirtan at Sri Seetha Rama temple in Ashwathapura,Dakshina Kannada, by Raghu Leela School of Music wentviral on social media with millions of views.[1]
Nagar Kirtan (Punjabi: ਨਗਰ-ਕੀਰਤਨ(Gurmukhi)), in Sikhism, is customary in the festival ofVaisakhi. Traditionally, the procession is led by thesaffron-robedPanj Piare (the five beloved of the Guru), who are followed by theGuru Granth Sahib, the holySikh scripture, which is placed on afloat.[7]
Commonly, members of the procession are unshod in deference to the displayed scripture. Likewise, many cover their heads and don the colour saffron or orange. The road before the procession is cleared bySewadars. Bystanders bow their heads to the scripture. Food may be provided to them from floats that follow the Scripture or from stationary points near the vicinity of the procession.[8] The procession concludes at theGurudwara withArdas (prayer).[9]
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