I awoke to the sounds of stomping feet and beating drums. There was a contagious buzz already surrounding the group the morning of the event. Gaura’s house was filled with busy people. Some were rehearsing, some were ironing, some were rushing from here to there to help with the preparations for the event but everyone was excited, and everyone had a smile on their face. For the first time that I could see, busy preparation time had actually turned into “service attitude of love” time. Although everyone had their part to do, people were happy to be a part of making this event happen. I took a deep breath and smiled, not quite knowing what the evening was going to bring. I knew that the show had been sold out and that there would be standing room only, but I wasn’t quite sure what that meant.

As all the performers piled into a fifteen seat red van, I thought happily that it wouldn’t be long before I found out all of the implications that this wonderful night of kirtan would hold. Arriving at the chapel, the group of As Kindred Spirits performers was first greeted by a camera crew who were doing a documentary on the event. Braving the cold to answer different questions, it seemed as though the excitement was enough to warm us and we were able to give our opinions with a smile. We talked about what kirtan meant to us and about what a gift it was to be able to share our feelings with other people. We expressed our excitement over the new management and how we were ready for change and were all praying that it would be change for the better.

As we walked into the church, things began to feel a little more real to me. The stage was still being set up and I looked up at the arched ceiling as some of our friends tested out the acoustics in the room. This was really going to happen. As Kindred Spirits was going to be able to share their flavor of kirtan with more people than I would be able to count. I watched as the crew of my friends made preparations for web cams so that countless others would also be able to watch the event. Even the volunteers were laughing and joking and continued to set things up with a smile.

Sound check went quickly and I found myself in a room of seasoned kirtan performers wondering how I got there. I felt small and inadequate in the slowly filling church and I looked to all of my kirtan partners for comfort and reassurance. Gaura, Ananta, Bali, Kish, Vish, Jagi, they were all there, and we would all be performing together. I felt safe and I felt like things were falling into place. Just given the opportunity to be at this kind of event would have made me happy, but being able to perform and to make my family and friends proud was something that made tears begin to well up in my eyes.

Before I knew it, it was time to go and get ready for the event. The artist green room was filled with people laughing and eating and one could sense a pulsating energy coming from the room from everyone who was ready to share kirtan with those assembled. People, myself included changed as discreetly as possible into their superhero kirtan costumes and painted their faces so they would look just right.

Our dancers looked captivating as one by one they applied facial decorations and the beautifully thick eyeliner characteristic of classical Indian dancers. Flowers adorned their hair and a single rose bloomed out of one side of their buns brightening their faces and their smiles until they glowed. Their skirts billowed into full circles when they spun experimentally and their anklets tinkled charmingly as they walked.

Our Mayapuris became veritable kirtan knights as they wrapped their traditional dhotis with folds hanging down in crisp angles. Some wrapped their heads in turbans while others let the cloth of their chaddar hang to one side of their shoulders. Neat, with heads held high, filled with confidence, and their mrdanga drums over one shoulder, their smiles were enough to melt any woman’s heart.

Once the group was ready, we did what comes natural to us. Kirtan. We sat down in a space in the room with mrdangas and kartals and just our voices and began to chant. This is how we enjoy each other’s company best. This is how we show we care and this is how we share our feelings, through kirtan. Jai Uttal joined us a little into the kirtan and we all felt invigorated to have him there. We all got so caught up into the kirtan that we hadn’t realized how time was passing and soon it was time for the show to start.

Saul David Raye was able to bring his much acclaimed skills as a Thai yoga therapist to the forefront as he began the show with a meditative Gayatri mantra that was able to calm the entire audience and set the stage for the event. It is understood that the Gayatri mantra is a mantra that delivers or protects the chanter from material entanglement. As we are all trying to get rid of the different miseries in our lives, whether we want to spend less, become better people, become less of an earthly burden, etc, the Gayatri mantra is there to help us realize and awaken what is really essential in our lives. Beginning with the Gayatri mantra was a very beautiful way to start the show, but it was also very key in reminding everyone of the reasons they were there.

Daphne Tse’s soaring voice took over with a lullaby melody for Saraswati Mata. The chant was soothing to the soul and uplifting, filling the chapel with voices all singing together “Om Sri Saraswatiyai Namah Om Mata”. The beautiful harmonies filled the space and the heart began to dance as everyone felt the power of her voice and of the mantra itself. Her next song Magnificence was a meditation on peace and the goodness that everyone needs in their life as she sang “Peace to all, Joy to all, Love to all, Om Shanti” and projected that into the space. It was clear that an atmosphere of peace and prosperity was being established for the new era that everyone had come together to celebrate.

Gaura Vani & As Kindred Spirits Play Chant4Change

Once Daphne’s set was over it was time for As Kindred Spirits to take the stage, but it was clear that she had given the audience something vital that they could take with them into their lives after this concert. The talented and eternally effervescent Shiva Rea, our MC for the night used the Mayapuris to get the audience up and dancing before we started. The kirtan began with Guru Gauranga Jayate a chant to invoke auspiciousness and pay respects to our spiritual masters who gave us this practice of kirtan that we now share with everyone we meet. As the song started, led by Gauravani, the dancers marched gracefully down the isle, with flower petals in their hands that they showered on a small but magnificent brass form of Radha and Krsna. Gaura’s deep, sweet voice swept over everyone and the devotion that he sang with was so strong that it could almost be touched. As we went into Ayodhyavasi Ram the crowd began to dance as we glorified Ram as the perfect king and tried to project that type of guidance to our soon-to-be president. Our fellow chanters sang along and we smiled as we thought about the surprises that we had in store for them. As Ayodhyavasi Ram calmed down the Mayapuris, shining like ancient kirtan princes took their places in front of the stage to perform a drum presentation the likes of which no one there had ever seen before. I found myself hooting for my personal favorite Mayapuri, Balarama Tirtha (Bali), as he took the crowd through a hand clapping and head bopping solo that left the crowd speechless and breathless from cheering. They shouted mrdanga mantras and played them back and forth until finally they took it to a dead stop at the wild applause of the audience, and then started again with a smooth groove on mrdanga that had everyone swaying. It was then that I started singing.

When I tell you that it was different than any other kirtan that I had done in my life to date, I’m sure no one will believe me, but it was. All I could see were people chanting along, and I thought about my mother who was in the audience and how she had always said that this was all that she wanted for me, to be able to sing kirtan for people. I thought of how she always prays for me, whether I ask her to or not, praying without fail that people will enjoy the kirtan. And that God will just shower his mercy on me. At that moment I prayed too. I prayed that she would be proud of me. I prayed that I would be able to give her everything that a mother wishes for from a child. That night I sang with everything I had, and tried to let my heart show through, and prayed for that to be enough.

Our Kirtan ended with Krishna Murari, a group favorite that talks about the temple of the mind and the heart. Krishna is the deity and the heart is the temple. Our beautiful dancers joined us again for that song, depicting the meanings of each phrase of the song showing how Krsna interacts in different ways with his devotees. The result was breathtaking and the crowd was riveted. With my brother Ananta Govinda on the mrdanga and my sister- in-law Janaki Priya singing vocals with us, I felt as though As Kindred Spirits were definitely stars in the kirtan world. I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t want to dance hearing Ananta play the mrdanga and I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t feel inspired to sing with Janaki’s beautiful voice. Together with their constant attitude of cooperation and humility they were like two gems on the necklace that is As Kindred Spirits. Once the song was over and we were off the stage I could hardly believe it had happened. There were no words at the moment to describe what I felt but thinking of it now the only thing that comes to mind is blessed. I felt blessed to be in the company of such wonderful kirtaniyas and I felt blessed to be able to chant for an event like this, but the night was only half over.

Dave Stringer was next with his strong and clear voice and his melodies and tunes that stay with you for at least the next three months after hearing them. He started his set with Shivo ‘Ham Shivo ‘Ham. The melody had everyone dancing again as we in As kindred Spirits marveled at the range and power of his voice. He got the crowd even more ecstatic with a fist pumping Jaya Vitthale with everyone singing as loudly as they possibly could. This audience was ready to celebrate and Dave Stringer definitely gave them a celebration. His set ended with the romantic Gunghata which I’m sure had everyone assembled with tears gathered in their eyes from the sweet melody and the heart wrenching lyrics. The set had everyone wondering the same thing “where can I get that?!”

Last up for the kirtaniyas was Jai Uttal who needs no introduction. It was easy to see just how much everyone loves him by the way almost everyone who performed earlier came up on stage to accompany Jai through his kirtan. Jai started with Rama Bolo, which kept with the spirit of celebration and kept the party going and allowed the crowd to dance. The bhajan had the mrdanga, tabla and kartals all speaking to one another as the beats went back and forth both complimenting and challenging each to take the kirtan to the next level.

That next level was reached when Jai went into the next bhajan, Radha Ramana Haribol. As the bhajan went on, all you could hear was the roar of the crowd as they responded back to the kirtan leader. Jai ended his set with Hare Krishna and it was amazing to see so many people in a room, their arms raised in the air chanting and doing kirtan. I have grown up with kirtan my entire life and have felt fortunate to have it as such a central driving force in my everyday life, but to see these people come together, the night before the inauguration and celebrate by singing Hare Krishna was a dream that I wasn’t sure I would ever see come true.

The event wound down with a spirited rendition of America the Beautiful sung by the soulful powerhouse Toni Childs. Everyone joined hands in acknowledgement that it was good to be in this country where we could have events like this and showcase our individuality. In this country we have the freedom to do yoga, to perform kirtan, to love Krsna, Rama, Buddha, Shiva, Saraswati, Jesus, Allah, or whomever our heart desires. We were able to come together and put on this event because we live in America and at that moment I think it definitely hit everyone in the room just how fortunate we were to have the opportunities afforded to us by this country. We were brought back to the fact that we are ushering in a new era and we were chanting to effect a good change and bring positive energy to this new era, to make it effulgent and to make it the kind of time that will go down in history for its wonderful qualities.

If Chant4Change was in any way an indication of times to come, then we are all in for a wonderful time, filled with love and peace and a sense of compassion for everyone that we meet. Speaking to those who were in the crowd people remarked that no one there had an attitude. If someone was unable to see all it took was a tap on the shoulder to the person in front and room was made. That kind of consideration shown to a fellow person is the kind of difference that can change an entire nation. The event showed what happens when determination is built up with cooperation, service and love, and those are the virtues that we should all strive to bring to this new world order that is being established. It starts with each one of us and each of us can chant for change in our everyday lives through our actions and through our mindset, this event was just step number one.

Acyuta Gopi is a member of As Kindred Spirits and a powerhouse kirtan leader in her own right. Browse the Downloads page for some of her transforming kirtans.

The Entire Chant4Change Show in chronological order.

NOTE: We have very high quality recordings from Chant4Change but are still debating on creating a professionally produced audio CD of the event with a compilation of the best songs. If you feel this is a good idea, or a bad idea, leave a comment to start a discussion…