Question

How many types of traditions are there of Keertan?
A) 2
B) 3
C) 4
D) 5

Answer 1

Hint: Kirtan is a Sanskrit word that refers to the "narrating, reciting, recounting, and describing" of an idea or story in Indian religions. It also refers to a religious performance art genre unique to the Indian subcontinent, denoting a musical type of narration or shared recitation, notably of spiritual or religious beliefs.

Complete answer:
Kirtan is a call-and-response style song or chant set to music in which numerous singers repeat or explain a legend, show love devotion to a deity, or discuss spiritual principles, with roots in the Vedic anukirtana tradition. It may incorporate dancing or the singer's direct presentation of bhavas (emotional moods). Many kirtan performances are designed to involve the audience by having them repeat the chant or respond to the singer's appeal.

The two primary keertan traditions are -
I) Naradiya or Haridasi: "Naradiya Kirtan'' is an age-old form of devotion, admiration for gods and godly acts, and glorification of the almighty, as well as a tool used by performers to keep people informed about the world outside of their towns and to educate the masses about good values of life and the very purpose of human life, through the medium of "ONE MAN SHOW" consisting of prose and musical performance given at temples and other holy places. Haridasi kirtan is a solo performance of Haridasi kirtan.

II) Varkari: Sant Namdev founded Varkari Keertan in Maharashtra over 900 years ago. It is mainly based on the poetry of Maharashtra's seven most prominent saints: Saint Nivruttinath, Sant Dnyaneshwar, Sopandev, Muktabai, Saint Eknath, Saint Namdev, and Saint Tukaram Maharaj. Other saints' sayings are occasionally chosen. Collective engagement is particularly significant in the Varkari Keertan.

Therefore the correct answer is option ‘A’.

Note: A kirtankar is a person who performs kirtan (or kirtankar). Kirtans are accompanied by regionally popular musical instruments such as the harmonium, veena or ektara (string instruments), tabla (one-sided drums), mrdanga or pakhawaj (two-sided drum), flute (woodwind instruments), and karatalas or talas (string instruments) (cymbals).