Rather Mela 1...........Kirtan Singer
A Kirtan Singer performing in front of the idols and the chariot at the fair ground during 'Rath Yatra' festival
Kirtan (devotional singing) is a spiritual practice coming from India, particularly Bengal. Literally translated as “celebrating, praising, glorifying”. Kirtan is not about artistic achievement and perfection but rather about reaching a meditative or ecstatic state of mind.
Kirtan is generally practiced as call-and-response – a lead singer chanting a line which then is repeated by the rest of the group. The songs as such are mostly relatively simply structured and repetitive, usually starting slowly and then building in pace and intensity. Kirtans are usually sung in groups.
SEE MY RATHA YATRA SERIES : flic.kr/s/aHsjvgCtC2
The 'Rath Yatra' or Festival of Chariots is one of the greatest festivals annually observed all over India. The festival, however, originated in Jagannath Puri on the eastern coast of the state of Orissa, India. The festival is associated with Lord Jagannath and commemorates his annual journey to his aunt's residence along with his brother and sister.
The symbolic movement of the chariot of Jagannath is celebrated with much fanfare. The idols are brought back after a week in the chariot in the festival of 'Ulto Ratha' (reversed Ratha). The week is synonymous with numerous fairs ('Rather Mela').
Images of Bengal, India
Rather Mela 1...........Kirtan Singer
A Kirtan Singer performing in front of the idols and the chariot at the fair ground during 'Rath Yatra' festival
Kirtan (devotional singing) is a spiritual practice coming from India, particularly Bengal. Literally translated as “celebrating, praising, glorifying”. Kirtan is not about artistic achievement and perfection but rather about reaching a meditative or ecstatic state of mind.
Kirtan is generally practiced as call-and-response – a lead singer chanting a line which then is repeated by the rest of the group. The songs as such are mostly relatively simply structured and repetitive, usually starting slowly and then building in pace and intensity. Kirtans are usually sung in groups.
SEE MY RATHA YATRA SERIES : flic.kr/s/aHsjvgCtC2
The 'Rath Yatra' or Festival of Chariots is one of the greatest festivals annually observed all over India. The festival, however, originated in Jagannath Puri on the eastern coast of the state of Orissa, India. The festival is associated with Lord Jagannath and commemorates his annual journey to his aunt's residence along with his brother and sister.
The symbolic movement of the chariot of Jagannath is celebrated with much fanfare. The idols are brought back after a week in the chariot in the festival of 'Ulto Ratha' (reversed Ratha). The week is synonymous with numerous fairs ('Rather Mela').
Images of Bengal, India