Katha Keertan - An Introduction

This is a humble attempt to give some basic information about Katha Keertan. My father, Keertanacharya Lakshmandas Velankar is a well known harikatha exponent. My mother Smt Meera, gave me bhajan samskar. I am extremely fortunate to have spent my childhood in the divinity of Bhadragiri brothers, Sent Bhadragiri Achyutdasji and Sent Bhadragiri Keshavadasji. I grew up listening to Bhadragiri brothers and my father's harikathas. During my schooling at the Ramakrishna Balakashrama in Mangalore, Pujya Swami Jitakamanandaji encouraged me to perform keertans in several places. Now I have taken up Katha Keerthan seriously along with classical vocal music and have recently performed Katha Keerthans.

I seek blessings from my Guruji Pt Vinayak Torvi, an internationally acclaimed vocalist and son of great haridasa, Vidwan Malhar Rao Torvi. I thank my PhD guide Dr. Meera Raja ram Pranesh, who encouraged and pursued me to take up Keertan again. I would like to thank Sri S.P. Gurudas, himself being a good keertankar, who encouraged me and gave his valuable insight about Katha Keertan.

I thank my students, Aditya Udupa, Ajit Subramanian and Vandya Bhatt who helped me to write this book. I would like to thank my friend Tabla Artist Pt. Gurucharan Garud & Smt. Shobha Hiremath, who helped me in formatting this book. I thank Sri Sripati Bhatt & Sri Arul Kumar for printing and designing this book. I would like to dedicate this small work to my father, who taught me harikatha and endowed me with writing skills ...

Book's Contents and Sample Pages