Snatam Kaur - UK Dates

Gurbani Kirtan Snatam Kaur with GuruGanesha & Krishan Snatam Kaur, GuruGanesha Singh, and Krishan Prakash Singh travel throughout the world, visiting many Gurdwaras and sharing their inspirational kirtan (devotional music) with many communities. Gurudwaras are free and open to all. No registration is required for these events.

Snatam Kaur, GuruGanesha Singh, and Krishan Prakash Singh travel throughout the world, visiting many Gurdwaras and sharing their inspirational kirtan (devotional music) with many communities.

Gurudwaras are free and open to all. No registration is required for these events.

Gurdwara means "Guru's Gate". It is a traditional Sikh gathering where the Shabad Guru, or Sacred Sound Current is celebrated. The focal point of the gathering is the Siri Guru Granth Sahib, which is a masterful collection of pure sound current from the Sikh Gurus and other enlightened masters of early India. The service consists of the recitation of this sound current in musical form. After the service a community meal, or langar is served to everyone.

Snatam Kaur said herself, "I serve my Guru which is the Shabad Guru, or Sacred Sound Current, and for me visiting Gurdwaras all over the world is a blessing for me. As I bow my head in each of these sacred sites I am connected with my Guru, and with each community that we visit. Gurdwara for me sustains and nourishes me for the peace mission that we are on. I welcome anyone who wants to come, no matter what their faith may be, because in my experience Gurdwara and connecting to the Guru is one of the most healing things on this planet."

People of all walks of life are welcome to come and be a part of the Gurdwara. If you have never been to a Gurdwara before, please be sure to bring a headcovering. For more information about Sikhism or Gurdwara please visit www.sikhnet.com

About the Instructor
Snatam Kaur was introduced to music and spiritual practice at an early age. Schooled in kirtan, meditation, and Gurmukhi, the Sanskrit-based language of Sikh scriptures from Northern India, the young Snatam Kaur began to develop the devotion and skills that have grown and blossomed into a compelling, profound talent.

Snatam Kaur's parents brought her up in the Sikh tradition as taught by Yogi Bhajan. From an early age, she practiced yoga and meditation daily and her mother taught her Gurmukhi. "My mother taught me the alphabet on my way to school every morning," recalls Snatam. Her Sikh community augmented these lessons with instruction in kirtan (devotional chanting). "Through these experiences, I learned the pronunciation," she says, "but also I learned the passion for what I was singing because these gatherings were so spiritual."

As a child, Snatam also had training in voice, violin, guitar, and percussion. She obtained a solid foundation in Western classical music while playing violin in an orchestra and giving solo performances. Her many opportunities to use and expand her musical talent in a spiritual setting emphasized for her the connection between her music and spirituality. "I learned about the importance of sound currents from Yogi Bhajan," she says, "but I also had the personal experience of how the energy of these sacred words can have a very real, positive effect."

Snatam further explored the power of sound in India. After high school, her love for the Indian musical tradition and for children took her to Miri Piri Academy, a boarding school for children in India. She spent time taking care of the young children, teaching physical education, and providing music for the children's morning and evening chanting. When she returned to the United States, she attended Mills College in Oakland, California, where she obtained a degree in biochemistry, taught yoga classes, and shared her chants with Western audiences. But India called her back. After touring and performing Kirtan in northern India, Snatam settled in Amritsar where she studied music with the accomplished ragi (Indian master of Sikh-style kirtan) Bhai Hari Singh. This was a great honor for her, and particularly meaningful because Singh was the same teacher who had taught her mother when she was just a little girl.

Snatam embraced everything that Singh taught her, from the technical aspects of the notes, to the ability to sing with presence and awareness. The lessons took place in Singh's home, where Snatam was welcomed by the entire family--daughters, sons, and grandchildren.

While in Amritsar, Snatam lived next door to the Golden Temple, considered the world's holiest Sikh temple. Sacred music resonates from inside the temple from about 2:30 in the morning to midnight every day-sounds created by world-class masters of Sikh kirtan. This enabled Snatam to continually soak in the essence of the Sound Current.

Upon returning to the US from India, Snatam began her career as a recording artist with a band called the Peace Family. She served as the band's lead singer and, with two skilled and accomplished musicians - Livtar Singh and GuruGanesha Singh, had her first opportunity to write songs. Two years later she began to develop her own sound and style and embarked on a very fruitful solo career.

Dates & Locations

Select the date for more information about the location, time, price, ticketing, and directions.

• 05/25/2006 Wolverhampton, UK
• 05/26/2006 Leicester, UK
• 05/27/2006 Leicester, UK
• 05/28/2006 Southall, UK
• 05/28/2006 London, UK
• 07/20/2006 Edmonton, Alberta
• 07/26/2006 Surrey, BC
• 08/06/2006 Eugene, OR
• 08/09/2006 Sacramento, CA
• 08/13/2006 Fremont, CA