What is Ashtaprahar Sankirtan?

In the Hindu belief, time is a cyclical concept rather than a linear concept. The cycle of birth, death and rebirth is evident everywhere in nature, and the sun itself is the most obvious heavenly body that not only sustains life on earth but in doing so, makes a daily 'journey' according to the dictation of time.  

In observing the constraints of time and in its apparent motion, the sun also defines time on earth giving each sector of the 24-hour cycle a unique character of its own. AshtaPrahar follows the sun on its apparent journey through the day pausing at each vital section to interpret its beauty and its spiritual significance through a relevant vedic shlok in Sanskrit.

Thus the 24 hours of the day divided into 8 Prahars. In other words, the duration from 6 o'clock in the morning to 6 o'clock the next morning, i.e. 24 hours, is called ASHTA(8) PRAHARS.

An AshtaPrahar Sankirtan is a Hindu ritual function performed in devotional praise of Lord Krishna. Devotees chant the name of Lord Krishna continuously for twenty-four hours in turn without any break in a specified place on specified days with specified instruments.

So, Ashtaprahar makes a link between science and spirituality, beauty at its best!

Format of Ashtaprahar Sankirtan

In modern times, Ashtaprahar Sankirtan is primarily performed in Bengal (Bangladesh, and the Indian states of Assam, Tripura, and West Bengal) as devotees in nearby towns and villages flock to hear the Lord Krishna's names.

For the Sankirtan community, Ashtaprahar Sankirtan is a grand affair and the format of Ashtaprahar usually follows the following timetable:

• Day 1 - Opening ceremony (adhibash)

• Day 2 sunrise to Day 3 sunrise - 24 hour non-stop Sankirtan

• Day 3 - closing ceremony (dodhir Bandha)

As of May 2022, an Ashtaprahar Sankirtan of the kind usually performed in Bengal has not yet been performed in the UK. This is largely due to the 24 hour kirtan element and the difficulty of logistics surrounding this. With Lord Krishan's blessings, we are hopeful that between 29 and 31 July 2022, the UK would have hosted a first of its kind Ashtaprahar Sankirtan!