Mumbai witnessed a massive gathering of music and spirituality on Sunday as around 24,000 people turned up across two shows at the NSCI Dome to experience devotional singer Krishna Das live. The atmosphere was less like a conventional concert and more like a collective spiritual gathering, with thousands singing along to sacred chants, clapping and swaying to the rhythm of the music.Krishna Das kept the audience immersed in devotional music, singing and chanting non-stop for two hours at each show. Repeated chants of ‘Hare Ram’, ‘Hare Krishna’ and ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ reverberated through the venue as concertgoers joined in, transforming the performances into a collective act of devotion.While some shut their eyes and absorbed themselves in the music, others gently swayed to the chants. Many broke into dance as the rhythm gathered momentum and the music reached a crescendo. The mood remained devotional and participatory, with the audience responding to the music rather than merely watching the performer on stage.
Krishna Das performed several of his popular numbers, including Sita Ram, Hare Krishna, Devi Puja, Kashi Vishwanath Gange and the Hanuman Chalisa. However, one of the most enthusiastic responses came when he began singing Om Namah Shivaya, a track featured in the sleeper hit Hanuman Ansh. The chant drew loud cheers and an enthusiastic response from the audience.Accompanying Krishna Das on stage were tabla player Alan Bruggeman, bassist Mark Eric and playback singer Nina Rao-Labrecque, who performed with hand cymbals. Together, the musicians created a soundscape that blended devotional chanting with rhythmic arrangements, encouraging the audience to sing along throughout the performances.
The two shows, held from 2 pm to 4.30 pm and 7.30 pm to 9.30 pm, drew a diverse audience, including several celebrities. Among those present were cricketer Virat Kohli, actor Anushka Sharma and director Vishal Chaturvedi, whose film Hanuman Ansh features Krishna Das’ song. Anushka, dressed in a red salwar kameez, was seen clapping, swaying to the music and joining in the chants. Seated beside her, Virat, dressed in a black T-shirt, appeared immersed in the experience, with his eyes closed at moments as he listened to the devotional music.
Accompanying Krishna Das on stage were tabla player Alan Bruggeman, bassist Mark Eric and playback singer Nina Rao-LabrecqueThe turnout underlined the appeal of kirtan as a shared musical and spiritual experience for urban audiences.
