Kirtan- singing the praise of god.

Kirtan suggests that “singing the praises of God.” as in gurdwaras throughout the globe, there’s no additional necessary part of the life of the gathered community than kirtan. Men and ladies, young and old, learn to sing the Divine word, individually and congregationally. Usually, they sing to the accompaniment of AN accordion-style harmonium. Most of the hymns, known as shabads, are from the Guru sacred text. They’re gurbani, the hymns of the Gurus, or bhagatbani, the hymns of the saints. There are also famous and beloved hymns composed by the Sikh savants Bhai Gurdas and Bhai Nand Lal, perpetually favorites within the singing of kirtan.The Guru sacred text is poetry, and its poetry is sung. The total spirit and power of the word is within the singing of it. All of the shabads contained within the Guru sacred text are set to specific ancient musical scales known as ragas, every meant to be played at a particular time of day or to evoke particular mood. When Guru Arjan arranged the Adi granth, he ordered its thirty-one sections according to musical raga. The ragas are noted before every shabad.

The poetry of the Guru sacred text is, for the most part, in Punjabi. For this reason, all Sikhs, even within the US, create a shot to show their youngsters Punjabi in order that they will sing the hymns, feel their resonance and sweetness, and most significant, perceive their meaning. Transcending the music, Sikhs plan to listen to the anahad shabad, or the “unstruck melody,” which is beyond the range of ear and mind, however is made by God and detected by the soul.During the gurdwara program, the appointed reader of the Guru sacred text, known as the granthi, could sing the hymns, as will the ragis, or trained Sikh musicians. Additionally, several members of the congregation (sangat), together with youngsters, also will lead the shabad. The traveller to the gurudwara can see Sikhs of all ages, ladies and men, leading the recitation, hour after hour.Hearing, remembering, and singing the praises of God are central to Sikh life. Through the hymns, Sikhs carry the name of God within the Divine Name throughout the week, at work and at home. However congregational singing provides a community of praise that each sustains and inspires