The Art of Kirtan Chanting

This album, Krishna Das - The Voice of the Vedas, represents my sincere prayer to Maharaj-ji to help me find the right angle on a dark and crowded stage, to really capture the man. I crawled all over the stage until I found this angle, braced myself on my monopod, cranked the camera and just fired the shutter non-stop, praying these photos would come out! VIEW PHOTOS

Deva Premal, Miten and Manose perform magnificently conscious sacred music, that embodies the presence of Osho. I can't wait to have the opportunity to hear and photograph them again. VIEW PHOTOS

This master yoga class at Bhakti Fest 2011 featuring Krishna Kaur took students beyond their limitations, to experience the exhilarating sense of freedom. Krishna Kaur is the founder of Los Angeles based Yoga for Youth. VIEW PHOTOS

The rivetting R&B Kirtan set at Bhakti Fest 2010 featuring Dave Stringer. The band included Suzanne Sterling, C.c. White, Denise Kaufman, Joni Allen, Matt Pszonak. Dave is also going to be at Bhakti Fest Spring Ommersion VIEW PHOTOS

Wah! This compillation album has photos of the divine mama at Bhakti Fest 2009 and 2010, and from her kirtan with an incredible laser show at the Amma Benefit Concert in Santa Monica, and at Kali Klub in Los Angeles. To me, Wah represents a paragon of integrity and artistry. I find myself drenched with tears as I photograph her, feeling the enormous amount of love, bhakti, and grace that flows, as she brings kirtan to life. VIEW PHOTOS

On Stage Two at Bhakti Fest 2010, it was practically impossible to find a clear line of sight from which to photograph the set organized by Momo Loudiyi. There were so many musicians, instruments, monitors, stands and gear, I can't believe this came out as one of the most gorgeous photo sessions from the festival! So much of the Los Angeles yoga and kirtan community was on stage, including Darshana Thaker, Matthrew Pszonak, Annmarie Solo, Dahveed Haribol Baba, Marla Leigh, Matthew Hufshcmidt, and Arjuna. Also Momo Loudiyi was joined by Alvin Young of Johnson and the Wild Lotus Band, David Schommer, and Michelle Hurtado among other kirtan artists. VIEW PHOTOS

Ayurveda Satsangs is the name of this album, depicting various moments from my training in Ayurveda and Panchakarma, with my teachers Light Miller and Bryan Miller, as well as shots of the National Ayurvedic Medical Association meeting in 2010 which include Dr. David Frawley, Prashanti de Jager and Jai Dev Singh. Also, included are beautiful photographs from the Villa Ananda Ayurvedic Retreat and from the 14-day Panchakarma Training retreat I had the pleasure of attending before starting my own Ayurvedic practice in Los Angeles. VIEW PHOTOS

My Guru's House is the name of this album, which features photos of my beloved Amma Sri Karunamayi, photos of the Deities freshly-worshipped at my pujas in Los Angeles at Aanand Saagar, and of hand-crafted sacred objects that I have photographed over the years. VIEW PHOTOS

Asha is the finest sacred dancer I have ever seen. Her prowess encompasses Indian Classical dance, many forms of Bellydance, Afghani, Moroccan, and Sufi styles. To her I owe my success in photography, for it was my interest in supporting her work back in 2004 that led me to purchase my first Canon 10D and start taking digital photography seriously as my Seva and Art. I am also proud of the simple, but thorough website that I designed for her - outdated as it is by today's standards. I feel its writing and composition really captured the spirit of her work at that time. VIEW PHOTOS

The first Bhakti Fest in 2009 was an incredible historical event. The largest kirtan and yoga gathering in the Western World. Featured in this Bhakti Fest 2009 Compilation album are Sean Johnson and the Wild Lotus Band, Girish, Wah!, Wade Morissette, Mukti, Geoffrey Gordon, Nandhi, and Lalita Lily Diamond, who was my awesome roomie and taught me so much about music and puja! VIEW PHOTOS

Yet another stunning visual treat - only in LA. Wah! performing at the annual Amma Benefit in an amazing laser show where each of the lasers was calibrated to frequencies that heal the body and soul! Jai Ma. Jai Wah! VIEW PHOTOS

An intimate portrait of Govindas and Radha performing at the Amma Benefit in Santa Monica, opening for Wah! This heartwarming performance captured the beauty of their musical family/sangha spirit. VIEW PHOTOS

Jai Ma, I love living in LA! The yoga scene is alive and radiating love and light to the whole world! My Los Angeles Yoga Scene album features photos from the Titans of Yoga premiere that was covered by Kasey Luber in her video adventures, with a host of teachers including Shiva Rea, Larry Payne, Swami Kriyananda, Saul David Raye, Kishan Shah, Sara Ivanhoe,and kirtan artist Joey Lugassy. Also included in the album are Cristi Christensen, Hala Khouri, and Isabelle du Soleil at Exhale Center for Sacred Movement in a benefit for Yoga Gives Back, photos of kirtan troubador,Girish, Sean Johnson and the Wild Lotus Band, and my photos of yoga teachers shot for LA YOGA Magazine, including Editor in Chief, Felicia Tomasko. VIEW PHOTOS

Jai Uttal has been a regular visitor to the Los Angeles yoga / kirtan scene. I was able to capture his performances at Kali Klub, and twice at Bhakti Fest as well. Jai will be back in Los Angeles for the Moksha Festival of Yoga, Ayurveda and Sacred Music on August 13th and 14th. Check out his new music video. VIEW PHOTOS

DJ Cheb i Sabbah rocked the dance world with Ganga Dev, and other spiritual classics from the Maha Maya CD. So it was a treat to shoot his set in Los Angeles at Kali Klub in 2010. I love the Black and White images in this album. VIEW PHOTOS

This album is titled, Supremely Bhavalicious features phogographs of Govindas and Radha from their Bhakti Fest sets in 2009 and 2010. They are accompanied by Sidnie Sita Charnaw, Ben Marciano, Cooper Madison, Honeybee Henderson, Dahveed Haribol Baba, Momo Loudiyi, and Clayton Campbell. Govindas and Radha are the owners of Bhakti Yoga Shala, in Santa Monica, a premiere venue for kirtan and yoga classes inspired with bhakti and kirtan music. VIEW PHOTOS

Kirtaniyas Vijay Krishna Sings Kirtan at Bhakti Fest

If there is a voice for Krishna bhakti, Vrindaban style in the US today, it is undoubtably heralded by Vijay Krishna, Rasika Covin, and Sarasvati Nugent of The Kirtaniyas, who combine the heartiness of village kirtan with the esoteric mellows of Vrindaban Gaudiya bhakti for Srimati Radharani. This ablum consists of photographs from their 2 am set at Bhakti Fest 2010. VIEW PHOTOS

Nupur Dance Academy, where I study Indian Classical music under my Guru Prachi Dixit, recently held an incredible performance titled, "Generations of Kathak" in which Prachi, her Guru who flew in with her daughter, and Prachi's students all performed together, representing three generations of artists. Myself, in the "fourth generation" was blessed to be the photographer. VIEW PHOTOS

I first met Radhanath Swami in 1986 after I was kicked out of the Boston temply by Niranjana Swami, who drove me to New Vrindaban. I stepped out of the car, walked up to the main temple and Radhanath Swami was sitting outside. I made dandavats and introduced myself. He welcomed me to New Vrindaban. He was one of the most advanced devotees, among several greats such as Varshana Swami and Bhaktitirtha Swami Krishnapada. Until 1899 I stayed in the brahmacari ashram with him when he visited New Vrindaban. VIEW PHOTOS

Bhakti Fest 2010 Compliation. What can I say? The pure essence of spiritual transformation! The Wisdom School of the Desert. Yes! David Newman Durga Das, Seane Corn, David Elliot, Girish, Govindas, Saul David Raye, DJ Fabian Alsultany, Krishna Das, Lauri Ashworth of The Hub, Shiva Baum, MC Yogi, Deva Premal and Miten, Masood Ali Khan, Tony Khalife, and so many other beloveds! VIEW PHOTOS

Each photo album can be viewed fullscreen. Click this icon in the gallery!

"You have amazing talent behind the lens, I love so many of the photos... the colors are rich and the energy is beautiful. Thank you for your talent and dedication to the bhakti community." Wah!

"Thanks so much. Feels like you were right next to me!!! Your photos are simply great!!!!!!!" Jai Uttal

"Thank you so much brother-ji." Girish

"Good going, great photos" Shyamdas

"You captured the moment- jai ma!" Sara Ivanhoe

"Kailas, Blessings these are the best pix I've ever seen, you captured great moments. thank you so much brother and many blessings." Tony Khalife

"beautiful pictures Kailas!" Krishna Kaur

"You're an amazing photographer
so honored to have your pics. Thank you for your time and spending the day with us all to bless us with your photography!" Ani Phyo

"Gratitude to Kailas for capturing my Bhakti Fest set on camera." Dave Stringer

"Kailas, You are a Genius!!!! Pure Art!!" Momo Loudiyi

"Dear Kailasji, Thanks you much for the posting all the pics. it's just awesome. I love it all. all my blessing to you." Manose

"These are all wonderful shots... you are a very talented bhakta!!! Your pics are epic...Jai Siya Ram." Govindas

"Awesome photos brother. Well captured!!" Massod Ali Khan

"What an amazing photographer you are! Wow!! You really captured the moments. I love how crisp and refined each photo is too." Terra Gold

"Dearest dearest, wonderful photos." Kristin Olson

Beautiful photo's Kailas! Bliss everywhere!! David Elliott

"Thank you so much. The shots are amazing. You are a gift!!! So much love and infinite blessings." Sita Devi

" Wow Wow Wow..... I'll say it again WOW!!! You have magic in those hands and eyes capturing the creative moments." Matthew Hufschmidt

"This is a CD cover, it's breathtaking." And "This is one of the most beautiful pics of Denise I've ever seen. Blessings to you for your incredible gift, and your beautiful soul Kailas!" C.c. White

"Your participation in Kali Klub as a mentor, guide, photographer, friend and confidant was crucial to the beauty and essential experience of Kali Klub" Cecelia Fuentes, Founder, Kali Klub

My Bhakti Photographer Community:

Julianne Reynolds (Romanski Films)

Mario Covic

Jeremy Frindel

Brother Echo (Raw Sangha)

Thank You to Brother Echo Roberson of Raw Sangha who took the amazing photo of me at the top of this site. We were shooting Bhakti Fest together, Momo's set, and he came up to me and showed me this image and I could not believe how perfect it is! Gratitude and a big shout out!

Complete Index of Kirtan, Yoga and Ayurveda Photographs by Kailas.