Sankirtos

Sankirtos is a term occasionally used to refer to sankirtan, the practice of congregational chanting of the divine names. In Sanskrit, sankirtan broadly means “joining together in praise” and is used in various Hindu devotional traditions, especially within Vaishnavism. The form is typically rendered as sankirtan or sankirtana; sankirtos may appear as a plural or variant spelling in some texts.

Practice involves groups forming circles or lines to chant names of God aloud, often with a call-and-response structure. Common chants focus on deities such as Krishna or Rama, and are accompanied by musical instruments like the mridanga drum, kartal cymbals, and harmonium. The atmosphere is devotional and participatory, emphasizing humility, collective devotion, and spiritual focus rather than individual performance.

Historically, sankirtan has roots in the Bhakti movement of medieval India and was further popularized by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in the 16th century, particularly within Gaudiya Vaishnavism. The Harinama-sankirtana tradition, street and temple chanting, spread through India and beyond, with modern expansion aided by international movements such as the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).

Variations in style and emphasis exist across regions and communities. Some performances foreground call-and-response structures; others blend traditional devotional chants with classical or folk melodies. While primarily devotional, sankirtan also serves social and cultural functions, fostering community and shared spiritual experience in temples, pilgrimages, and public events.

See also: Kirtan, Nama japa, Harinama, Bhakti movement, ISKCON.