Kirtan
Devotional group singing, call and response, in Hindu and Sikh worship.
Also: bhajan, qawwali
Kirtan is a form of devotional singing in which a leader sings a line of verse and the congregation answers, to the beat of drums, cymbals and a harmonium. It praises the names of God and can last for hours. Hindu kirtan, led by Krishna devotees and others, has spread worldwide, while in Sikhism the kirtan of hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib is the heart of every gurdwara service. The related qawwali of Sufi Muslims uses the same energy of repetition and rising rhythm. People of any background can join in, and the words matter less than the sharing of the sound.
Region: South Asia