Join us every Friday night for Kirtan: call and response chanting of mantras. Each week the chanting is led by a different leader, most often from the Brooklyn Kirtan Collective, The Vanaras. "The words of these chants are called the divine names and they come from a place that's deeper than our hearts and our thoughts, deeper than the mind. As we sing them they turn us towards ourselves, into ourselves." - Krishna Das

Devadas | May 24th, 8 - 9:30pm | Devadas is a devotee, singer/songwriter and producer based in Brooklyn.  He began making music as a teenager in his hometown of Portland, ME. After moving to NYC in the early 90′s,  he became interested in eastern spirituality, and met his Guru, Amma. Under Her inspiration, he began the regular practice of bhajan, traditional Hindu call and response devotional singing, leading kirtans all over New York, the East Coast and India. He has recorded a wide variety of CDs and is releasing his latest recording, Brooklyn Mellows on June 1st at BYS! For more information, visit his website.

Anjula Prasad | May 31st, 8 - 9:30pm | Anjula was raised in a very devotional family that revered Indian classical music as one of the highest forms of spirituality. While growing up, she frequently traveled throughout India, where she learned to chant and discovered how fulfilling it was to express her devotion through her own voice. In 2007, she recorded her first album, Anjula, a collection of traditional chants sweetly sung over powerful sounds of guitar, tabla, and dholak. To hear her music visit her website.

Devadas' Brooklyn Mellows CD Release Party | Saturday, June 1st, 8 - 11pm | Join us for the CD release party and first listen of Devadas’ new album “Brooklyn Mellows.” The evening includes a live Kirtan with Devadas & friends. Admission is free and CDs will be on sale! Doors open at 7:30p. To learn more about Devadas, and his new album, visit his website HERE.

Shyama Chapin | June 7th, 8 - 9:30pm | Shyama has spent many years as a performing songwriter in New England and California. These days she loves to chant the Divine Names and feels lucky and blessed to be able to center her days around this practice. She leads kirtan in NYC and beyond, has been singing in Krishna Das’ Posse, live and on his recordings, for many years. Alongside her own kirtan schedule, Shyama teaches harmonium to accompany chant practice and community kirtan to students in the New York metropolitan area. She plans to release a new chant CD, Love's Door, in 2013. For more information, visit her website.

3 HOUR VANARAS KIRTAN | June 14th, 8 - 11pm | Join the Vanaras for the monthly 3-Hour BYS Kirtan! For the month of June we will be honored Hanuman, Ram and Sita, and singing 11 Hanuman Chalisas as well as call and response chants to Ram and Sita. Chanting led by Anjula, Ambika, Devadas, Jeremy, Lily, Nina and Shyama. Doors open at 7:30p. Sliding Donation Scale of $5 - $20 per person.

Sharada Devi | June 2st, 8 - 9:30pm | Sharada Devi is a devotee of Neem Karoli Baba. She has traveled throughout India for the past thirty plus years in various temples playing music with the kirtan musicians. "I began to soak up the melodic tunes and found my heart in constant rhythym with the beat of the drum. The simple repetitions of the chants fill my spirit and bring forth a greater understanding of the dance of true love." For more info, visit her website.

Ambika Cooper | June 28th, 8 - 9:30pm | Ambika was a singer for many years in bands in NYC until she discovered chanting around 1996. Kirtan had a profound effect on her, and lead her to India where she continued to deepen her connection to the chants. This practice has become her refuge over the years and she is grateful to be chanting the Divine Name with so many others. Ambika is currently working on a recording of the Metta Chant (Lovingkindness) with producer, Devadas Labrecque, for digital release in early 2013. For more information, visit her website.