Acclaimed as one of the most beautiful voices in the Vaishnava tradition, DASI Karnamrita is an immensely talented vocalist and teacher in the ancient tradition of Bhakti Yoga.
Raised in an Ashram community in the United States, she has a deep relationship with Bhajans and Kirtans from early childhood.
At the age 24, she began formal classical training with her Guruji, Pandit Vidur Mallick in the small village of Vrindaban in North India. Under his guidance, she studied for nearly a decade,
the ancient and rigorous art known as Dhrupad. After his passing, she took further guidance from Maestro Ustad Ali Akbar Khan, in San Rafael, California, where she now resides.
Having intimately practiced and studied these arts; her singing and music combine vibrations and the art of sound, into a rare and deeply transformative practice.
For the last eight years, she has toured extensively around the world, delighting audiences everywhere she goes.
Her album DASI: Prayers by Women has won many awards and received great acclaim.
Shantala Music
Benjy and Heather Wertheimer lead kirtan (sacred chanting) worldwide as the duo Shantala, with soul-stirring vocals, sacred lyrics and exotic instrumentation. The weaving of Benjy’s Indian classical singing and instrumentation with Heather’s soaring vocals is freshly original and profoundly moving. Together they create music with beauty, passion, and reverence. Shantala has performed and recorded internationally with such sacred music luminaries as Krishna Das, Deva Premal & Miten, and Jai Uttal. In summer 2008, they were named as one of the top “Wallahs to Watch” by Yoga + Joyful Living. Kirtan is a celebration of spirit through the chanting of sacred names, carrying the audience into a state of heightened awareness, bliss, and devotion. The audience is invited to participate fully through call-and-response chanting, dance, and meditation.
Pete McCormack
Called a “modern-day renaissance man” by the Vancouver Sun, Pete McCormack is an award-winning filmmaker, novelist, screenwriter, musician, poet and producer who loves the philosophy of yoga.
As a performer, Pete has toured solo, sometimes in his long-deceased Toyota Van, town to town, and has toured with and opened for artists as diverse as impressionist Andre Phillipe Gagnon, jazz singer Holly Cole, the legendary Classic rock band Little Feat, and former Payola$ frontman Paul Hyde.
Jeffrey Armstrong
Jeffrey Armstrong is Vancouver's yoga and Kirtan center point. Jeffrey is a professional speaker, award winning author and founder of VASA, Vedic Academy of Science & Arts. He is a scholar of the Eastern teachings including Vedanta, Raja Yoga, and Mantra practices; having been initiated into these by Masters of these traditions. He has spent the last 35 years committed to yogic practices including Martial Arts, Chinese Medicine, and Ayurveda. Armstrong combines the best knowledge of the East into a complete system of practice which integrates practical tools for transformation in the areas of our spiritual and personal lives. He has degrees in Psychology, History & Comparative Religion, and Literature.
He has travelled internationally to major universities, ashrams and corporations as well as to yoga and health spa conferences, teaching about the Vedic culture. In addition, Jeffrey has also published countless books and recorded multiple seminar cds.
Sparrow
Songstress *Sparrow (Tiffany Brulotte)* is an Albertan
kirtan artist and singer songwriter.
She offers musical experiences featuring her original world folk
songs blended with uplifting, moving kirtan, mantras and chants.
Sparrow has been travelling the world sharing the gifts of
song with many cultures.With tones ranging from dulcet
to powerful, her music is heartfelt, inspiring and eclectic.
The songs she shares reflect the common threads among
cultures and the lessons of her extraordinary journeys
Give Peace a Chant is the Heart of Vancouver's KIRTAN Community, since 2001. GPaC's Bhakti Yoga style of Kirtan extracts its flavour or RASA from the devotional music of India. For over a decade, we have shared Kirtan gatherings that focus on imbibing heart energy into the pure sounds of the Divine Name in All Forms. By listening to, chanting and remembering Divine Names, we are able to share our love and devotion and serve something much greater than ourself. Our traditional Indian Bhakti Kirtan sound invites you to sing and dance enthusiastically, or simply rest your heart and mind, and meditate with the pure sound vibrations of Kirtan Yoga, offered with love, by Sandra Leigh and Friends.
Juno Nominated DJ "E.V." from fusion music group A-slam will be spinning a mix of Kirtan and World Music Beats. A-slam's Debut Album "Back Down" will be coming out this year.
Join their email list for free music downloads: www.a-slam.com.
AirAnanda featuring Raghunath Das
AirAnanda is a collision of two worlds - the ancient art of kirtan, or glorification of the supreme
through mantra, and the contemporary soundspace of the tribal dancefloor. Kirtan is naturally
a wide-open experience as it embraces the very core of who we are - free spirits. AirAnanda is a
project which explores the unifying force of sacred sound, bridging gaps between diverse cultures.
AirAnanda is the current project of Raghunath Das aka Haitchc. Originally from the UK he has been
an active part of the evolving dance culture in Western Canada for more than 20 years. He has released several CD's under various guises and has been featured on-stage at many festivals throughout North America.
He is an initiate belonging to the path of bhakti or devotional yoga, having studied at an early age in
his homeland and in later years both in Canada and India.
Raghunath is also the host and producer of the weekly Vancouver radio show Mantra, broadcast
on CiTR 101.9fm.
Kirtan Vancouver is a non-profit organization with the goal of bringing the community together through yoga, music and art by tapping into the world’s most ancient sound vibrations and showcasing them in a modern environment. Creating an oasis in the city, we aim to channel the energy of today’s youth into a transformative event. Kirtan is a means for promoting peace through music. Funds raised will support local community programs – we can make a difference!
ABOUT Kirtan: Absorb the Sound, Ignite your Soul!
Kirtan is one of the oldest sacred yoga traditions of the world. It is a call-and-response chanting genre. "Say the Mantra, Repeat, Faster, Louder, Be Meaningful." Kirtan helps us connect with ourselves, focus our attention and achieve true harmony between mind, body and spirit. Kirtan is part of the Yoga of Sound, in which you produce sound waves and follow them with your awareness. Think Ommm! Kirtan can bring about dramatic, positive changes in overall health and wellness.
WHAT to expect: Kirtan under the Stars
World-renowned Kirtan leaders will perform a FREE outdoor concert, encouraging participants to sing and dance. As the interactive performances on the main stage continue well into the night, there will be delicious, fresh vegan and vegetarian food prepared on site. An outdoor shopping bazaar will showcase vendors selling hand-made vegan arts, crafts, clothing and accessories from around the globe.
:: The VENUE ::
5PM to 9PM - 2nd Beach Stanley Park, Downtown Vancouver.
Where you can connect with sound AND experience the mountains, water and sand that
make Vancouver home.
In the ancient Sanskrit language, the word "bhakti" means devotion. But in a more nuanced definition, "bhakti" means devotion that is performed as a loving service. The word "seva" also means service.
Thus, the Bhakti Dance Seva Ensemble is a group of talented and disciplined dancers in the art form of Bharatanatyam dance who are dedicated to presenting the culture of devotion to the Lord through dance.
The Mayapuris
An amalgamation of 3 drummers, 2 dancers, one Bad Brains record and unbridled
spontaneity coming together under a lifelong devotion. The Mayapuris are a Kirtan
band, breathing new, young life into sacred 5,000 year-old songs, inspiring yogis,
swamis and rock stars all over the world to sing, dance and be transported.
Ghost Brothers
A modern adaptation of that traditional Sanskrit word which means to access meaning
of life. Influences of roots, pop, worldbeat, and surf rock combine flawlessly to create
a sound unique to the Ghost Brothers.
Gaura Vani & As Kindred Spirits
A multicultural group of musicians, singers, dancers and performers that bring the ancient,
mystical tradition of Kirtan to life as you've never heard it before. Rhythms and melodies
of East and West combine to create a sound that is both cutting-edge and inspired.
The one-day concert in the park is the largest Kirtan event in Western Canada. Such a large community event could not take place without all the volunteers who help in the office and promotion months leading up the event, as well as set up, stage production, and in the kitchen on site.
Volunteers directly contribute to our ability to keep the event FREE and economically accessible to all. Additionally, volunteers make a direct impact on Kirtan Vancouver’s capacity to support non-profit groups and give back to the community. We thank dearly for your support, volunteers!
Volunteer Perks
In addition to having an opportunity to meet other community and health-minded individuals, volunteers enjoy a number of perks. These include:
An invitation to the Volunteer and Member Appreciation dinner.
Food and water at the event.
A volunteer T-shirt (sizes depend on availability)
Kirtan Vancouver Volunteers: Apply Now
This annual event will be held on Saturday, August 18th 2012. We are currently accepting Kirtan Vancouver volunteers in the following areas:
